Detergent compositions containing selected mid-chain branched surfactants

ABSTRACT

Detergent composition comprising a mid-chain branched surfactant and also containing a bleaching agent, aluminosilicate, silicate, and/or detersive enzyme.

CROSS REFERENCE

This is a continuation of PCT International Application Serial No. PCT/US97/06474, filed Apr. 16, 1997; which claims priority to Provisional Application Serial Nos. 60/015,521, filed Apr. 16, 1996; 60/015,523, filed Apr. 16, 1996; and 60/031,844, filed Nov. 26, 1996.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a detergent composition comprising a mid-chain branched surfactant and a bleaching agent, aluminosilicate and/or silicate builder, and/or detersive enzyme, preferably in granular form. More particularly, the invention is directed to detergent compositions containing a bleaching agent, aluminosilicate, silicate, and/or detersive enzyme and a selected mid-chain branched surfactant.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most conventional detergent compositions contain mixtures of various detersive surfactant components. Commonly encountered surfactant components include various anionic surfactants, especially the alkyl benzene sulfonates, alkyl sulfates, alkyl alkoxy sulfates and various nonionic surfactants, such as alkyl ethoxylates and alkylphenol ethoxylates. Surfactants have found use as detergent components capable of the removal of a wide variety of soils and stains. A consistent effort however is made by detergent manufacturers to improve detersive properties of detergent compositions by providing new and improved surfactants.

A problem commonly associated with anionic surfactants is their sensitivity to cold water and/or hard water. It is the surprising finding of the present invention that in comparison to known anionic surfactant components, the mid-chain branched surfactants utilized herein provide improved cleaning performance, especially for granular detergent compositions to be used under colder wash water conditions and/or in hard water. The cleaning results obtained by using these mid-chain branched surfactants in combination with bleaching agents are particularly desirable.

An advantage of the present invention is the improved cleaning performance, over a wide variety of soils and stains, of the detergent composition formulated with the mid-chain branched surfactants.

BACKGROUND ART

U.S. Pat. No. 3,480,556 to deWitt, et al., Nov. 25, 1969, EP 439,316, published by Lever Jul. 31, 1991, and EP 684,300, published by Lever Nov. 29, 1995, describe beta-branched alkyl sulfates. EP 439,316 describes certain laundry detergents containing a specific commercial C14/C15 branched primary alkyl sulfate, namely LIAL 145 sulfate. This is believed to have 61% branching in the 2-position; 30% of this involves branching with a hydrocarbon chain having four or more carbon atoms. U.S. Pat. No. 3,480,556 describes mixtures of from 10 to 90 parts of a straight chain primary alkyl sulfate and from 90 to 10 parts of a beta branched (2-position branched) primary alcohol sulfate of formula: ##STR1## wherein the total number of carbon atoms ranges from 12 to 20 and R1 is a straight chain alkyl radical containing 9 to 17 carbon atoms and R2 is a straight chain alkyl radical containing 1 to 9 carbon atoms (67% 2-methyl and 33% 2-ethyl branching is exemplified).

As noted hereinbefore, R. G. Laughlin in "The Aqueous Phase Behavior of Surfactants", Academic Press, N.Y. (1994) p. 347 describes the observation that as branching moves away from the 2-alkyl position towards the center of the alkyl hydrophobe there is a lowering of Krafft temperatures. See also Finger et al., "Detergent alcohols--the effect of alcohol structure and molecular weight on surfactant properties", J. Amer. Oil Chemists' Society, Vol. 44, p. 525 (1967) and Technical Bulletin, Shell Chemical Co., SC: 364-80.

EP 342,917 A, Unilever, published Nov. 23, 1989 describes laundry detergents containing a surfactant system in which the major anionic surfactant is an alkyl sulfate having an assertedly "wide range" of alkyl chain lengths (the experimental appears to involve mixing coconut and tallow chain length surfactants).

U.S. Pat. No. 4,102,823 and GB 1,399,966 describe other laundry compositions containing conventional alkyl sulfates.

G.B. Patent 1,299,966, Matheson et al., published Jul. 2, 1975, discloses a detergent composition in which the surfactant system is comprised of a mixture of sodium tallow alkyl sulfate and nonionic surfactants.

Methyl-substituted sulfates include the known "isostearyl" sulfates; these are typically mixtures of isomeric sulfates having a total of 18 carbon atoms. For example, EP 401,462 A, assigned to Henkel, published Dec. 12, 1990, describes certain isostearyl alcohols and ethoxylated isostearyl alcohols and their sulfation to produce the corresponding alkyl sulfates such as sodium isostearyl sulfate. See also K. R. Wormuth and S. Zushma, Langmuir, Vol. 7, (1991), pp 2048-2053 (technical studies on a number of branched alkyl sulfates, especially the "branched Guerbet" type); R. Varadaraj et al., J. Phys. Chem., Vol. 95, (1991), pp 1671-1676 (which describes the surface tensions of a variety of "linear Guerbet" and "branched Guerbet"--class surfactants including alkyl sulfates); Varadaraj et al., J. Colloid and Interface Sci., Vol. 140, (1990), pp 31-34 (relating to foaming data for surfactants which include C12 and C13 alkyl sulfates containing 3 and 4 methyl branches, respectively); and Varadaraj et al., Langmuir, Vol. 6 (1990), pp 1376-1378 (which describes the micropolarity of aqueous micellar solutions of surfactants including branched alkyl sulfates).

"Linear Guerbet" alcohols are available from Henkel, e.g., EUTANOL G-16.

Primary akyl sulfates derived from alcohols made by Oxo reaction on propylene or n-butylene oligomers are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,245,072 assigned to Mobil Corp. See also: U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,989, assigned to Mobil Oil Corp. (a method for producing substantially linear hydrocarbons by oligomerizing a lower olefin at elevated temperatures with constrained intermediate pore siliceous acidic zeolite), and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,026,933 and 4,870,038, both to Mobil Oil Corp. (a process for producing substantially linear hydrocarbons by oligomerizing a lower olefin at elevated temperatures with siliceous acidic ZSM-23 zeolite).

See also: Surfactant Science Series, Marcel Dekker, N.Y. (various volumes include those entitled "Anionic Surfactants" and "Surfactant Biodegradation", the latter by R. D. Swisher, Second Edition, publ. 1987 as Vol. 18; see especially p.20-24 "Hydrophobic groups and their sources"; pp 28-29 "Alcohols", pp 34-35 "Primary Alkyl Sulfates" and pp 35-36 "Secondary Alkyl Sulfates"); and literature on "higher" or "detergent" alcohols from which alkyl sulfates are typically made, including: CEH Marketing Research Report "Detergent Alcohols" by R. F. Modler et al., Chemical Economics Handbook, 1993, 609.5000-609.5002; Kirk Othmer's Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 4th Edition, Wiley, N.Y., 1991, "Alcohols, Higher Aliphatic" in Vol. 1, pp 865-913 and references therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a bleaching detergent composition comprising:

a) from about 0.1% to about 50% by weight of a bleaching agent;

b) from about 0.1% to about 50% by weight of a mid-chain branched surfactant selected from the group consisting of surfactants having the formula:

    A.sup.b --CH.sub.2 --B

wherein:

(i) A^(b) is a hydrophobic C9 to C22 (total carbons in the moiety), preferably from about C12 to about C18, mid-chain branched alkyl moiety having: (1) a longest linear carbon chain attached to the --X--B moiety in the range of from 8 to 21 carbon atoms; (2) one or more C₁ -C₃ alkyl moieties branching from this longest linear carbon chain; (3) at least one of the branching alkyl moieties is attached directly to a carbon of the longest linear carbon chain at a position within the range of position 2 carbon (counting from carbon #1 which is attached to the --X--B moiety) to position ω-2 carbon (the terminal carbon minus 2 carbons, i.e., the third carbon from the end of the longest linear carbon chain); and (4) the surfactant composition has an average total number of carbon atoms in the A^(b) --X moiety in the above formula within the range of greater than 14.5 to about 17.5 (preferably from about 15 to about 17); and

(ii) B is a hydrophilic moiety selected from sulfates, polyoxyalkylene (such as polyoxyethylene and polyoxypropylene), and alkoxylated sulfates;

c) from about 0.1% to about 99.8% by weight of detergent composition adjunct ingredients.

The present invention is also directed to granular detergent compositions comprising:

a) from about 1% to about 80% (preferably from about 3% to about 40%) by weight of a builder selected from the group consisting of aluminosilicates, silicates, and mixtures thereof;

b) from about 0.1% to about 50% by weight of a mid-chain branched surfactant selected from the group consisting of surfactants having the formula:

    A.sup.b --CH.sub.2 --B

wherein:

(i) A^(b) is a hydrophobic C9 to C22 (total carbons in the moiety), preferably from about C12 to about C18, mid-chain branched alkyl moiety having: (1) a longest linear carbon chain attached to the --X--B moiety in the range of from 8 to 21 carbon atoms; (2) one or more C₁ -C₃ alkyl moieties branching from this longest linear carbon chain; (3) at least one of the branching alkyl moieties is attached directly to a carbon of the longest linear carbon chain at a position within the range of position 2 carbon (counting from carbon #1 which is attached to the --X--B moiety) to position ω-2 carbon (the terminal carbon minus 2 carbons, i.e., the third carbon from the end of the longest linear carbon chain); and (4) the surfactant composition has an average total number of carbon atoms in the A^(b) --X moiety in the above formula within the range of greater than 14.5 to about 17.5 (preferably from about 15 to about 17); and

(ii) B is a hydrophilic moiety selected from sulfates, polyoxyalkylene (such as polyoxyethylene and polyoxypropylene), and alkoxylated sulfates; and

c) from about 0.1% to about 99.8% by weight of detergent composition adjunct ingredients.

The present invention is further directed to detergent compositions comprising:

a) from about 0.0001% to about 2% by weight of active detersive enzyme (preferably selected from the group consisting of proteases, cellulases, lipases, amylases, peroxidases, and mixtures thereof);

b) from about 0.1% to about 50% by weight of a mid-chain branched surfactant selected from the group consisting of surfactants having the formula:

    A.sup.b --CH.sub.2 --B

wherein:

(i) A^(b) is a hydrophobic C9 to C22 (total carbons in the moiety), preferably from about C12 to about C18, mid-chain branched alkyl moiety having: (1) a longest linear carbon chain attached to the --X--B moiety in the range of from 8 to 21 carbon atoms; (2) one or more C₁ -C₃ alkyl moieties branching from this longest linear carbon chain; (3) at least one of the branching alkyl moieties is attached directly to a carbon of the longest linear carbon chain at a position within the range of position 2 carbon (counting from carbon #1 which is attached to the --X--B moiety) to position ω-2 carbon (the terminal carbon minus 2 carbons, i.e., the third carbon from the end of the longest linear carbon chain); and (4) the surfactant composition has an average total number of carbon atoms in the A^(b) --X moiety in the above formula within the range of greater than 14.5 to about 17.5 (preferably from about 15 to about 17); and

(ii) B is a hydrophilic moiety selected from sulfates, polyoxyalkylene (such as polyoxyethylene and polyoxypropylene), and alkoxylated sulfates; and

c) from about 0.1% to about 99.8% by weight of detergent composition adjunct ingredients.

Preferably, the mid-chain branched surfactant is used in the present invention detergent compositions as a component of a surfactant system (i.e., the surfactant system comprises the mid-chain branched surfactant and one or more co-surfactants) wherein the mid-chain branched surfactant is present at levels of from about 0.1% to about 50%, preferably from about 1% to about 40%, most preferably from about 2% to about 30% by weight of the surfactant system. It is to be noted however that higher levels of mid-chain branched surfactant are within the present invention.

Preferably, these detergent compositions comprise a surfactant system further comprising one or more co-surfactants selected from: anionic surfactants, preferably selected from the group of alkyl alkoxylated sulfates, alkyl sulfates, and/or linear alkyl benzenesulfonate surfactants; cationic surfactants, preferably selected from quaternary ammonium surfactants; nonionic surfactants, preferably alkyl ethoxylates, alkyl polyglucosides, and/or amine oxide surfactants; amphoteric surfactants, preferably selected from betaines and/or polycarboxylates (for example polyglycinates); and zwiterionic surfactants.

Preferred bleaching detergent compositions comprise oxygen bleaches selected from perborates, percarbonates, and mixtures thereof, more preferably in combination with bleach activators such as nonanoyloxybenzene sulfonate (NOBS) and tetraacetyl ethylene diamine (TAED) activators, and mixtures thereof Preformed percarboxylic acid bleaching agents may also be used.

Preferred compositions according to the present invention are directed to granular detergent compositions comprising:

a) from about 0.1% to about 50% by weight of a bleaching agent;

b) from about 1% to about 80% by weight of a builder selected from the group consisting of aluminosilicates, silicates, and mixtures thereof;

c) from about 0.0001% to about 2% by weight of active detersive enzyme;

d) from about 0.1% to about 50% by weight of a mid-chain branched surfactant selected from the group consisting of surfactants having the formula:

    A.sup.b --CH.sub.2 --B

wherein:

(i) A^(b) is a hydrophobic C9 to C22 (total carbons in the moiety), preferably from about C12 to about C18, mid-chain branched alkyl moiety having: (1) a longest linear carbon chain attached to the --X--B moiety in the range of from 8 to 21 carbon atoms; (2) one or more C₁ -C₃ alkyl moieties branching from this longest linear carbon chain; (3) at least one of the branching alkyl moieties is attached directly to a carbon of the longest linear carbon chain at a position within the range of position 2 carbon (counting from carbon #1 which is attached to the--X--B moiety) to position ω-2 carbon (the terminal carbon minus 2 carbons, i.e., the third carbon from the end of the longest linear carbon chain); and (4) the surfactant composition has an average total number of carbon atoms in the A^(b) --X moiety in the above formula within the range of greater than 14.5 to about 17.5 (preferably from about 15 to about 17); and

(ii) B is a hydrophilic moiety selected from sulfates, polyoxyalkylene (such as polyoxyethylene and polyoxypropylene), and alkoxylated sulfates; and

e) from about 0.1% to about 99.8% by weight of detergent composition adjunct ingredients.

All percentages, ratios and proportions herein are by weight of ingredients used to prepare the finished compositions unless otherwise specified. All documents cited herein are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides detergent compositions which deliver effective cleaning of soils and stains via use of a mid-chain branched surfactant surfactant as described herein in combination with one or more of a bleaching agent, aluminosilicate, silicate, and/or detersive enzyme, preferably in granular form.

Percarbonate and perborate, which deliver peroxide bleach into the wash, are a cornerstone technology of modem, ultra-compact granular laundry detergent formulas. Peroxide bleach is very hydrophilic and, while it cannot match the bleaching effectiveness delivered by peracids (formed for example from peroxide interaction with TAED), it is effective at decoloration of pigments (e.g., in particulates or beverage stains) and also can help remove the color from the organic residues associated with body soils. Unexpectedly, it has now been discovered that compositions containing mid-chain branched surfactant surfactants and bleaching agents deliver superior cleaning and whiteness performance.

This invention also provides detergent compositions which deliver effective cleaning of soils and stains by means of bleach activators, preferably hydrophobic bleach activators, used in combination with a mid-chain branched surfactant surfactant useful in the present compositions and methods. Everyday soil cleaning and whiteness benefits for bleach activators and peracids have already been demonstrated. It has now been found that detergent and bleach compositions containing mid-chain branched surfactants and bleach activators (including preformed peracids) deliver superior cleaning and whiteness performance.

This invention also provides compositions which deliver effective cleaning of soils and stains via use of bleach catalysts in the present invention compositions and methods. Bleach catalysts (characterized by the presence of at least one transition metal atom) interact with peroxide to form very powerful hydrophilic bleaches. These bleaches deliver strong benefits on colored hydrophilic stains and hydrophilic everyday soils (i.e., socks). The catalysts are typically used at extremely low levels in cleaning products. As disclosed herein, products containing mid-chain branched surfactants and bleaching agents, with catalysts, deliver superior cleaning and whiteness performance. It is to be recognized, however, that historical use of bleach catalysts has been made difficult because of concerns about fabric damage (dimanganese catalysts are known to cause fabric damage), and thus such concerns must be considered when formulating compositions according to the present invention containing bleach catalysts.

This invention further provides compositions which deliver effective cleaning of soils and stains via use of builders selected from aluminosilicates, silicates, and mixtures thereof in the present invention compositions in granular form and methods.

In addition, the present invention provides compositions which deliver effective cleaning of soils and stains via use of detersive enzymes in the present invention compositions and methods.

Mid-Chain Branched Surfactant

An essential component of the liquid cleaning compositions of the present invention is an mid-chain branched surfactant. The mid-chain branched surfactant is selected from the following.

The present invention relates to liquid compositions comprising mid-chain branched surfactant compounds as described herein before. In such compositions, certain points of branching (e.g., the location along the chain of the R, R¹, and/or R² moieties in the above formula) are preferred over other points of branching along the backbone of the surfactant. The formula below illustrates the mid-chain branching range (i.e., where points of branching occur), preferred mid-chain branching range, and more preferred mid-chain branching range for mono-methyl branched alkyl A^(b) moieties useful according to the present invention. ##STR2## It should be noted that for the mono-methyl substituted surfactants these ranges exclude the two terminal carbon atoms of the chain and the carbon atom immediately adjacent to the --X--B group.

The formula below illustrates the mid-chain branching range, preferred mid-chain branching range, and more preferred mid-chain branching range for di-methyl substituted alkyl A^(b) moieties useful according to the present invention. ##STR3##

The preferred branched surfactant compositions useful in cleaning compositions according to the present invention are described in more detail hereinafter.

(1) Mid-Chain Branched Primary Alkyl Sulfate Surfactants

The present invention branched surfactant compositions may comprise two or more mid-chain branched primary alkyl sulfate surfactants having the formula ##STR4##

The surfactant mixtures of the present invention comprise molecules having a linear primary alkyl sulfate chain backbone (i.e., the longest linear carbon chain which includes the sulfated carbon atom). These alkyl chain backbones comprise from 12 to 19 carbon atoms; and further the molecules comprise a branched primary alkyl moiety having at least a total of 14, but not more than 20, carbon atoms. In addition, the surfactant mixture has an average total number of carbon atoms for the branched primary alkyl moieties within the range of from greater than 14.5 to about 17.5. Thus, the present invention mixtures comprise at least one branched primary alkyl sulfate surfactant compound having a longest linear carbon chain of not less than 12 carbon atoms or more than 19 carbon atoms, and the total number of carbon atoms including branching must be at least 14, and further the average total number of carbon atoms for the branched primary alkyl chains is within the range of greater than 14.5 to about 17.5.

For example, a C16 total carbon primary alkyl sulfate surfactant having 13 carbon atoms in the backbone must have 1, 2, or 3 branching units (i.e., R, R¹ and/or R³) whereby total number of carbon atoms in the molecule is at least 16. In this example, the C16 total carbon requirement may be satisfied equally by having, for example, one propyl branching unit or three methyl branching units.

R, R¹, and R² are each independently selected from hydrogen and C₁ -C₃ alkyl (preferably hydrogen or C₁ -C₂ alkyl, more preferably hydrogen or methyl, and most preferably methyl), provided R, R¹, and R² are not all hydrogen. Further, when z is 1, at least R or R¹ is not hydrogen.

Although for the purposes of the present invention surfactant compositions the above formula does not include molecules wherein the units R, R¹, and R² are all hydrogen (i.e., linear non-branched primary alkyl sulfates), it is to be recognized that the present invention compositions may still further comprise some amount of linear, non-branched primary alkyl sulfate. Further, this linear non-branched primary alkyl sulfate surfactant may be present as the result of the process used to manufacture the surfactant mixture having the requisite one or more mid-chain branched primary alkyl sulfates according to the present invention, or for purposes of formulating detergent compositions some amount of linear non-branched primary alkyl sulfate may be admixed into the final product formulation.

Further it is to be similarly recognized that non-sulfated mid-chain branched alcohol may comprise some amount of the present invention compositions. Such materials may be present as the result of incomplete sulfation of the alcohol used to prepare the alkyl sulfate surfactant, or these alcohols may be separately added to the present invention detergent compositions along with a mid-chain branched alkyl sulfate surfactant according to the present invention.

M is hydrogen or a salt forming cation depending upon the method of synthesis. Examples of salt forming cations are lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, quaternary alkyl amines having the formula ##STR5## wherein R³, R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ are independently hydrogen, C₁ -C₂₂ alkylene, C₄ -C₂₂ branched alkylene, C₁ -C₆ alkanol, C₁ -C₂₂ alkenylene, C₄ -C₂₂ branched alkenylene, and mixtures thereof. Preferred cations are ammonium (R³, R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ equal hydrogen), sodium, potassium, mono-, di-, and trialkanol ammonium, and mixtures thereof. The monoalkanol ammonium compounds of the present invention have R³ equal to C₁ -C₆ alkanol, R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ equal to hydrogen; dialkanol ammonium compounds of the present invention have R³ and R⁴ equal to C₁ -C₆ alkanol, R⁵ and R⁶ equal to hydrogen; trialkanol ammonium compounds of the present invention have R³, R⁴ and R⁵ equal to C₁ -C₆ alkanol, R⁶ equal to hydrogen. Preferred alkanol ammonium salts of the present invention are the mono-, di- and tri- quaternary ammonium compounds having the formulas:

    H.sub.3 N.sup.+ CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OH, H.sub.2 N.sup.+ (CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OH).sub.2, HN.sup.+ (CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OH).sub.3.

Preferred M is sodium, potassium and the C₂ alkanol ammonium salts listed above; most preferred is sodium.

Further regarding the above formula, w is an integer from 0 to 13; x is an integer from 0 to 13; y is an integer from 0 to 13; z is an integer of at least 1; and w+x+y+z is an integer from 8 to 14.

The preferred surfactant mixtures of the present invention have at least 0.001%, more preferably at least 5%, most preferably at least 20% by weight, of the mixture one or more branched primary alkyl sulfates having the formula ##STR6## wherein the total number of carbon atoms, including branching, is from 15 to 18, and wherein further for this surfactant mixture the average total number of carbon atoms in the branched primary alkyl moieties having the above formula is within the range of greater than 14.5 to about 17.5; R¹ and R² are each independently hydrogen or C₁ -C₃ alkyl; M is a water soluble cation; x is from 0 to 11; y is from 0 to 11; z is at least 2; and x+y+z is from 9 to 13; provided R¹ and R² are not both hydrogen. More preferred are compositions having at least 5% of the mixture comprising one or more mid-chain branched primary alkyl sulfates wherein x+y is equal to 9 and z is at least 2.

Preferably, the mixtures of surfactant comprise at least 5% of a mid chain branched primary alkyl sulfate having R¹ and R² independently hydrogen, methyl, provided R¹ and R² are not both hydrogen; x+y is equal to 8, 9, or 10 and z is at least 2. More preferably the mixtures of surfactant comprise at least 20% of a mid chain branched primary alkyl sulfate having R¹ and R² independently hydrogen, methyl, provided R¹ and R² are not both hydrogen; x+y is equal to 8, 9, or 10 and z is at least 2.

Preferred detergent compositions according to the present invention, for example one useful for laundering fabrics, comprise from about 0.001% to about 99% of a mixture of mid-chain branched primary alkyl sulfate surfactants, said mixture comprising at least about 5% by weight of two or more mid-chain branched alkyl sulfates having the formula: ##STR7## or mixtures thereof; wherein M represents one or more cations; a, b, d, and e are integers, a+b is from 10 to 16, d+e is from 8 to 14 and wherein further

when a+b=10, a is an integer from 2 to 9 and b is an integer from 1 to 8;

when a+b=11, a is an integer from 2 to 10 and b is an integer from 1 to 9;

when a+b=12, a is an integer from 2 to 11 and b is an integer from 1 to 10;

when a+b=13, a is an integer from 2 to 12 and b is an integer from 1 to 11;

when a+b=14, a is an integer from 2 to 13 and b is an integer from 1 to 12;

when a+b=15, a is an integer from 2 to 14 and b is an integer from 1 to 13;

when a+b=16, a is an integer from 2 to 15 and b is an integer from 1 to 14;

when d+e=8, d is an integer from 2 to 7 and e is an integer from 1 to 6;

when d+e=9, d is an integer from 2 to 8 and e is an integer from 1 to 7;

when d+e=10, d is an integer from 2 to 9 and e is an integer from 1 to 8;

when d+e=11, d is an integer from 2 to 10 and e is an integer from 1 to 9;

when d+e=12, d is an integer from 2 to 11 and e is an integer from 1 to 10;

when d+e=13, d is an integer from 2 to 12 and e is an integer from 1 to 11;

when d+e=14, d is an integer from 2 to 13 and e is an integer from 1 to 12;

wherein further for this surfactant mixture the average total number of carbon atoms in the branched primary alkyl moieties having the above formulas is within the range of greater than 14.5 to about 17.5.

Further, the present invention surfactant composition may comprise a mixture of branched primary alkyl sulfates having the formula ##STR8## wherein the total number of carbon atoms per molecule, including branching, is from 14 to 20, and wherein further for this surfactant mixture the average total number of carbon atoms in the branched primary alkyl moieties having the above formula is within the range of greater than 14.5 to about 17.5; R, R¹, and R² are each independently selected from hydrogen and C₁ -C₃ alkyl, provided R, R¹, and R² are not all hydrogen; M is a water soluble cation; w is an integer from 0 to 13; x is an integer from 0 to 13; y is an integer from 0 to 13; z is an integer of at least 1; and w+x+y+z is from 8 to 14; provided that when R² is a C₁ -C₃ alkyl the ratio of surfactants having z equal to 1 to surfactants having z of 2 or greater is at least about 1:1, preferably at least about 1:5, more preferably at least about 1:10, and most preferably at least about 1:100. Also preferred are surfactant compositions, when R² is a C₁ -C₃ alkyl, comprising less than about 20%, preferably less than 10%, more preferably less than 5%, most preferably less than 1%, of branched primary alkyl sulfates having the above formula wherein z equals 1.

Preferred mono-methyl branched primary alkyl sulfates are selected from the group consisting of: 3-methyl pentadecanol sulfate, 4-methyl pentadecanol sulfate, 5-methyl pentadecanol sulfate, 6-methyl pentadecanol sulfate, 7-methyl pentadecanol sulfate, 8-methyl pentadecanol sulfate, 9-methyl pentadecanol sulfate, 10-methyl pentadecanol sulfate, 11-methyl pentadecanol sulfate, 12-methyl pentadecanol sulfate, 13-methyl pentadecanol sulfate, 3-methyl hexadecanol sulfate, 4-methyl hexadecanol sulfate, 5-methyl hexadecanol sulfate, 6-methyl hexadecanol sulfate, 7-methyl hexadecanol sulfate, 8-methyl hexadecanol sulfate, 9-methyl hexadecanol sulfate, 10-methyl hexadecanol sulfate, 11-methyl hexadecanol sulfate, 12-methyl hexadecanol sulfate, 13-methyl hexadecanol sulfate, 14-methyl hexadecanol sulfate, and mixtures thereof.

Preferred di-methyl branched primary alkyl sulfates are selected from the group consisting of: 2,3-methyl tetradecanol sulfate, 2,4-methyl tetradecanol sulfate, 2,5-methyl tetradecanol sulfate, 2,6-methyl tetradecanol sulfate, 2,7-methyl tetradecanol sulfate, 2,8-methyl tetradecanol sulfate, 2,9-methyl tetradecanol sulfate, 2,10-methyl tetradecanol sulfate, 2,11-methyl tetradecanol sulfate, 2,12-methyl tetradecanol sulfate, 2,3-methyl pentadecanol sulfate, 2,4-methyl pentadecanol sulfate, 2,5-methyl pentadecanol sulfate, 2,6-methyl pentadecanol sulfate, 2,7-methyl pentadecanol sulfate, 2,8-methyl pentadecanol sulfate, 2,9-methyl pentadecanol sulfate, 2,10-methyl pentadecanol sulfate, 2,11-methyl pentadecanol sulfate, 2,12-methyl pentadecanol sulfate, 2,13-methyl pentadecanol sulfate, and mixtures thereof.

The following branched primary alkyl sulfates comprising 16 carbon atoms and having one branching unit are examples of preferred branched surfactants useful in the present invention compositions:

5-methylpentadecylsulfate having the formula: ##STR9## 6-methylpentadecylsulfate having the formula ##STR10## 7-methylpentadecylsulfate having the formula ##STR11## 8-methylpentadecylsulfate having the formula ##STR12## 9-methylpentadecylsulfate having the formula ##STR13## 10-methylpentadecylsulfate having the formula ##STR14## wherein M is preferably sodium.

The following branched primary alkyl sulfates comprising 17 carbon atoms and having two branching units are examples of preferred branched surfactants according to the present invention:

2,5-dimethylpentadecylsulfate having the formula: ##STR15## 2,6-dimethylpentadecylsulfate having the formula ##STR16## 2,7-dimethylpentadecylsulfate having the formula ##STR17## 2,8-dimethylpentadecylsulfate having the formula ##STR18## 2,9-dimethylpentadecylsulfate having the formula ##STR19## 2,10-dimethylpentadecylsulfate having the formula ##STR20## wherein M is preferably sodium. (2) Mid-Chain Branched Primary Alkyl Polyoxyalkylene Surfactants

The present invention branched surfactant compositions may comprise one or more mid-chain branched primary alkyl polyoxyalkylene surfactants having the formula ##STR21##

The surfactant mixtures of the present invention comprise molecules having a linear primary polyoxyalkylene chain backbone (i.e., the longest linear carbon chain which includes the alkoxylated carbon atom). These alkyl chain backbones comprise from 12 to 19 carbon atoms; and further the molecules comprise a branched primary alkyl moiety having at least a total of 14, but not more than 20, carbon atoms. In addition, the surfactant mixture has an average total number of carbon atoms for the branched primary alkyl moieties within the range of from greater than 14.5 to about 17.5. Thus, the present invention mixtures comprise at least one polyoxyalkylene compound having a longest linear carbon chain of not less than 12 carbon atoms or more than 19 carbon atoms, and the total number of carbon atoms including branching must be at least 14, and further the average total number of carbon atoms for the branched primary alkyl chains is within the range of greater than 14.5 to about 17.5.

For example, a C16 total carbon (in the alkyl chain) primary polyoxyalkylene surfactant having 15 carbon atoms in the backbone must have a methyl branching unit (either R, R¹ or R² is methyl) whereby the total number of carbon atoms in the molecule is 16.

R, R¹, and R² are each independently selected from hydrogen and C₁ -C₃ alkyl (preferably hydrogen or C₁ -C₂ alkyl, more preferably hydrogen or methyl, and most preferably methyl), provided R, R¹, and R² are not all hydrogen. Further, when z is 1, at least R or R¹ is not hydrogen.

Although for the purposes of the present invention surfactant compositions the above formula does not include molecules wherein the units R, R¹, and R² are all hydrogen (i.e., linear non-branched primary polyoxyalkylenes), it is to be recognized that the present invention compositions may still further comprise some amount of linear, non-branched primary polyoxyallylene. Further, this linear non-branched primary polyoxyalkylene surfactant may be present as the result of the process used to manufacture the surfactant mixture having the requisite mid-chain branched primary polyoxyalkylenes according to the present invention, or for purposes of formulating detergent compositions some amount of linear non-branched primary polyoxyalkylene may be admixed into the final product formulation.

Further it is to be similarly recognized that non-alkoxylated mid-chain branched alcohol may comprise some amount of the present invention polyoxyalkylene-containing compositions. Such materials may be present as the result of incomplete alkoxylation of the alcohol used to prepare the polyoxyalkylene surfactant, or these alcohols may be separately added to the present invention detergent compositions along with a mid-chain branched polyoxyalkylene surfactant according to the present invention.

Further regarding the above formula, w is an integer from 0 to 13; x is an integer from 0 to 13; y is an integer from 0 to 13; z is an integer of at least 1; and w+x+y+z is an integer from 8 to 14.

EO/PO are alkoxy moieties, preferably selected from ethoxy, propoxy, and mixed ethoxy/propoxy groups, most preferably ethoxy, wherein m is at least about 1, preferably within the range of from about 3 to about 30, more preferably from about 5 to about 20, and most preferably from about 5 to about 15. The (EO/PO)_(m) moiety may be either a distribution with average degree of alkoxylation (e.g., ethoxylation and/or propoxylation) corresponding to m, or it may be a single specific chain with alkoxylation (e.g., ethoxylation and/or propoxylation) of exactly the number of units corresponding to m.

The preferred surfactant mixtures of the present invention have at least 0.001%, more preferably at least 5%, most preferably at least 20% by weight, of the mixture one or more mid-chain branched primary alkyl polyoxyalkylenes having the formula ##STR22## wherein the total number of carbon atoms, including branching, is from 15 to 18, and wherein further for this surfactant mixture the average total number of carbon atoms in the branched primary alkyl moieties having the above formula is within the range of greater than 14.5 to about 17.5; R¹ and R² are each independently hydrogen or C₁ -C₃ alkyl; x is from 0 to 11; y is from 0 to 11; z is at least 2; and x+y+z is from 9 to 13; provided R¹ and R² are not both hydrogen; and EO/PO are alkoxy moieties selected from ethoxy, propoxy, and mixed ethoxy/propoxy groups, wherein m is at least about 1, preferably within the range of from about 3 to about 30, more preferably from about 5 to about 20, and most preferably from about 5 to about 15. More preferred are compositions having at least 5% of the mixture comprising one or more mid-chain branched primary polyoxyalkylenes wherein z is at least 2.

Preferably, the mixtures of surfactant comprise at least 5%, preferably at least about 20%, of a mid chain branched primary alkyl polyoxyalkylene having R¹ and R² independently hydrogen or methyl, provided R¹ and R² are not both hydrogen; x+y is equal to 8, 9 or 10 and z is at least 2.

Preferred detergent compositions according to the present invention, for example one useful for laundering fabrics, comprise from about 0.001% to about 99% of a mixture of mid-chain branched primary alkyl polyoxyalkylene surfactants, said mixture comprising at least about 2% by weight of one or more mid-chain branched alkyl polyoxyalkylenes having the formula: ##STR23## or mixtures thereof; wherein a, b, d, and e are integers, a+b is from 10 to 16, d+e is from 8 to 14 and wherein further

when a+b=10, a is an integer from 2 to 9 and b is an integer from 1 to 8;

when a+b=11, a is an integer from 2 to 10 and b is an integer from 1 to 9;

when a+b=12, a is an integer from 2 to 11 and b is an integer from 1 to 10;

when a+b=13, a is an integer from 2 to 12 and b is an integer from 1 to 11;

when a+b=14, a is an integer from 2 to 13 and b is an integer from 1 to 12;

when a+b=15, a is an integer from 2 to 14 and b is an integer from 1 to 13;

when a+b=16, a is an integer from 2 to 15 and b is an integer from 1 to 14;

when d+e=8, d is an integer from 2 to 7 and e is an integer from 1 to 6;

when d+e=9, d is an integer from 2 to 8 and e is an integer from 1 to 7;

when d+e=10, d is an integer from 2 to 9 and e is an integer from 1 to 8;

when d+e=11, d is an integer from 2 to 10 and e is an integer from 1 to 9;

when d+e=12, d is an integer from 2 to 11 and e is an integer from 1 to 10;

when d+e=13, d is an integer from 2 to 12 and e is an integer from 1 to 11;

when d+e=14, d is an integer from 2 to 13 and e is an integer from 1 to 12;

and wherein further for this surfactant mixture the average total number of carbon atoms in the branched primary alkyl moieties having the above formulas is within the range of greater than 14.5 to about 17.5; and EO/PO are alkoxy moieties selected from ethoxy, propoxy, and mixed ethoxy/propoxy groups, wherein m is at least about 1, preferably within the range of from about 3 to about 30, more preferably from about 5 to about 20, and most preferably from about 5 to about 15.

Further, the present invention surfactant composition may comprise a mixture of branched primary alkyl polyoxyalkylenes having the formula ##STR24## wherein the total number of carbon atoms per molecule, including branching, is from 14 to 20, and wherein further for this surfactant mixture the average total number of carbon atoms in the branched primary alkyl moieties having the above formula is within the range of greater than 14.5 to about 17.5; R, R¹, and R² are each independently selected from hydrogen and C₁ -C₃ alkyl, provided R, R¹, and R² are not all hydrogen; w is an integer from 0 to 13; x is an integer from 0 to 13; y is an integer from 0 to 13; z is an integer of at least 1; w+x+y+z is from 8 to 14; EO/PO are alkoxy moieties, preferably selected from ethoxy, propoxy, and mixed ethoxy/propoxy groups, wherein m is at least about 1, preferably within the range of from about 3 to about 30, more preferably from about 5 to about 20, and most preferably from about 5 to about 15; provided that when R² is C₁ -C₃ alkyl the ratio of surfactants having z equal to 2 or greater to surfactants having z of 1 is at least about 1:1, preferably at least about 1.5:1, more preferably at least about 3:1, and most preferably at least about 4:1. Also preferred are surfactant compositions when R² is C₁ -C₃ alkyl comprising less than about 50%, preferably less than about 40%, more preferably less than about 25%, most preferably less than about 20%, of branched primary alkyl polyoxyalkylene having the above formula wherein z equals 1.

Preferred mono-methyl branched primary alkyl ethoxylates are selected from the group consisting of: 3-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylate, 4-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylate, 5-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylate, 6-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylate, 7-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylate, 8-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylate, 9-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylate, 10-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylate, 11-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylate, 12-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylate, 13-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylate, 3-methyl hexadecanol ethoxylate, 4-methyl hexadecanol ethoxylate, 5- methyl hexadecanol ethoxylate, 6- methyl hexadecanol ethoxylate, 7-methyl hexadecanol ethoxylate, 8- methyl hexadecanol ethoxylate, 9-methyl hexadecanol ethoxylate, 10- methyl hexadecanol ethoxylate, 11-methyl hexadecanol ethoxylate, 12-methyl hexadecanol ethoxylate, 13-methyl hexadecanol ethoxylate, 14-methyl hexadecanol ethoxylate, and mixtures thereof, wherein the compounds are ethoxylated with an average degree of ethoxylation of from about 5 to about 15.

Preferred di-methyl branched primary alkyl ethoxylates selected from the group consisting of: 2,3-methyl tetradecanol ethoxylate, 2,4-methyl tetradecanol ethoxylate, 2,5-methyl tetradecanol ethoxylate, 2,6-methyl tetradecanol ethoxylate, 2,7-methyl tetradecanol ethoxylate, 2,8-methyl tetradecanol ethoxylate, 2,9-methyl tetradecanol ethoxylate, 2,10-methyl tetradecanol ethoxylate, 2,11-methyl tetradecanol ethoxylate, 2,12-methyl tetradecanol ethoxylate, 2,3-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylate, 2,4-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylate, 2,5-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylate, 2,6-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylate, 2,7-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylate, 2,8-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylate, 2,9-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylate, 2,10-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylate, 2,11-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylate, 2,12-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylate, 2,13-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylate, and mixtures thereof, wherein the compounds are ethoxylated with an average degree of ethoxylation of from about 5 to about 15.

(3) Mid-Chain Branched Primary Alkyl Alkoxylated Sulfate Surfactants

The present invention branched surfactant compositions may comprise one or more (preferably a mixture of two or more) mid-chain branched primary alkyl alkoxylated sulfates having the formula: ##STR25##

The surfactant mixtures of the present invention comprise molecules having a linear primary alkoxylated sulfate chain backbone (i.e., the longest linear carbon chain which includes the alkoxy-sulfated carbon atom). These alkyl chain backbones comprise from 12 to 19 carbon atoms; and further the molecules comprise a branched primary alkyl moiety having at least a total of 14, but not more than 20, carbon atoms. In addition, the surfactant mixture has an average total number of carbon atoms for the branched primary alkyl moieties within the range of from greater than 14.5 to about 17.5. Thus, the present invention mixtures comprise at least one alkoxylated sulfate compound having a longest linear carbon chain of not less than 12 carbon atoms or more than 19 carbon atoms, and the total number of carbon atoms including branching must be at least 14, and further the average total number of carbon atoms for the branched primary alkyl chains is within the range of greater than 14.5 to about 17.5.

For example, a C16 total carbon (in the alkyl chain) primary alkyl alkoxylated sulfate surfactant having 15 carbon atoms in the backbone must have a methyl branching unit (either R, R¹ or R² is methyl) whereby the total number of carbon atoms in the primary alkyl moiety of the molecule is 16.

R, R¹, and R² are each independently selected from hydrogen and C₁ -C₃ alkyl (preferably hydrogen or C₁ -C₂ alkyl, more preferably hydrogen or methyl, and most preferably methyl), provided R, R¹, and R² are not all hydrogen. Further, when z is 1, at least R or R¹ is not hydrogen.

Although for the purposes of the present invention surfactant compositions the above formula does not include molecules wherein the units R, R¹, and R² are all hydrogen (i.e., linear non-branched primary alkoxylated sulfates), it is to be recognized that the present invention compositions may still further comprise some amount of linear, non-branched primary alkoxylated sulfate. Further, this linear non-branched primary alkoxylated sulfate surfactant may be present as the result of the process used to manufacture the surfactant mixture having the requisite mid-chain branched primary alkoxylated sulfates according to the present invention, or for purposes of formulating detergent compositions some amount of linear non-branched primary alkoxylated sulfate may be admixed into the final product formulation.

It is also to be recognized that some amount of mid-chain branched alkyl sulfate may be present in the compositions. This is typically the result of sulfation of non-alkoxylated alcohol remaining following incomplete alkoxylation of the mid-chain branched alcohol used to prepare the alkoxylated sulfate useful herein. It is to be recognized, however, that separate addition of such mid-chain branched alkyl sulfates is also contemplated by the present invention compositions.

Further it is to be similarly recognized that non-sulfated mid-chain branched alcohol (including polyoxyalkylene alcohols) may comprise some amount of the present invention alkoxylated sulfate-containing compositions. Such materials may be present as the result of incomplete sulfation of the alcohol (alkoxylated or non-alkoxylated) used to prepare the alkoxylated sulfate surfactant, or these alcohols may be separately added to the present invention detergent compositions along with a mid-chain branched alkoxylated sulfate surfactant according to the present invention.

M is as described hereinbefore.

Further regarding the above formula, w is an integer from 0 to 13; x is an integer from 0 to 13; y is an integer from 0 to 13; z is an integer of at least 1; and w+x+y+z is an integer from 8 to 14.

EO/PO are alkoxy moieties, preferably selected from ethoxy, propoxy, and mixed ethoxy/propoxy groups, wherein m is at least about 0.01, preferably within the range of from about 0.1 to about 30, more preferably from about 0.5 to about 10, and most preferably from about 1 to about 5. The (EO/PO)_(m) moiety may be either a distribution with average degree of alkoxylation (e.g., ethoxylation and/or propoxylation) corresponding to m, or it may be a single specific chain with alkoxylation (e.g., ethoxylation and/or propoxylation) of exactly the number of units corresponding to m.

The preferred surfactant mixtures of the present invention have at least 0.001%, more preferably at least 5%, most preferably at least 20% by weight, of the mixture one or more mid-chain branched primary alkyl alkoxylated sulfates having the formula ##STR26## wherein the total number of carbon atoms, including branching, is from 15 to 18, and wherein further for this surfactant mixture the average total number of carbon atoms in the branched primary alkyl moieties having the above formula is within the range of greater than 14.5 to about 17.5; R¹ and R² are each independently hydrogen or C₁ -C₃ alkyl; M is a water soluble cation; x is from 0 to 11; y is from 0 to 11; z is at least 2; and x+y+z is from 9 to 13; provided R¹ and R² are not both hydrogen; and EO/PO are alkoxy moieties selected from ethoxy, propoxy, and mixed ethoxy/propoxy groups, wherein m is at least about 0.01, preferably within the range of from about 0.1 to about 30, more preferably from about 0.5 to about 10, and most preferably from about 1 to about 5. More preferred are compositions having at least 5% of the mixture comprising one or more mid-chain branched primary alkoxylated sulfates wherein z is at least 2.

Preferably, the mixtures of surfactant comprise at least 5%, preferably at least about 20%, of a mid chain branched primary alkyl alkoxylated sulfate having R¹ and R² independently hydrogen or methyl, provided R¹ and R² are not both hydrogen; x+y is equal to 8, 9 or 10 and z is at least 2.

Preferred detergent compositions according to the present invention, for example one useful for laundering fabrics, comprise from about 0.001% to about 99% of a mixture of mid-chain branched primary alkyl alkoxylated sulfate surfactants, said mixture comprising at least about 5% by weight of one or more mid-chain branched alkyl alkoxylated sulfates having the formula: ##STR27## or mixtures thereof; wherein M represents one or more cations; a, b, d, and e are integers, a+b is from 10 to 16, d+e is from 8 to 14 and wherein further

when a+b=10, a is an integer from 2 to 9 and b is an integer from 1 to 8;

when a+b=11, a is an integer from 2 to 10 and b is an integer from 1 to 9;

when a+b=12, a is an integer from 2 to 11 and b is an integer from 1 to 10;

when a+b=13, a is an integer from 2 to 12 and b is an integer from 1 to 11;

when a+b=14, a is an integer from 2 to 13 and b is an integer from 1 to 12;

when a+b=15, a is an integer from 2 to 14 and b is an integer from 1 to 13;

when a+b=16, a is an integer from 2 to 15 and b is an integer from 1 to 14;

when d+e=8, d is an integer from 2 to 7 and e is an integer from 1 to 6;

when d+e=9, d is an integer from 2 to 8 and e is an integer from 1 to 7;

when d+e=10, d is an integer from 2 to 9 and e is an integer from 1 to 8;

when d+e=11, d is an integer from 2 to 10 and e is an integer from 1 to 9;

when d+e=12, d is an integer from 2 to 11 and e is an integer from 1 to 10;

when d+e=13, d is an integer from 2 to 12 and e is an integer from 1 to 11;

when d+e=14, d is an integer from 2 to 13 and e is an integer from 1 to 12;

and wherein further for this surfactant mixture the average total number of carbon atoms in the branched primary alkyl moieties having the above formulas is within the range of greater than 14.5 to about 17.5; and EO/PO are alkoxy moieties selected from ethoxy, propoxy, and mixed ethoxy/propoxy groups, wherein m is at least about 0.01, preferably within the range of from about 0.1 to about 30, more preferably from about 0.5 to about 10, and most preferably from about 1 to about 5.

Further, the present invention surfactant composition may comprise a mixture of branched primary alkyl alkoxylated sulfates having the formula ##STR28## wherein the total number of carbon atoms per molecule, including branching, is from 14 to 20, and wherein further for this surfactant mixture the average total number of carbon atoms in the branched primary alkyl moieties having the above formula is within the range of greater than 14.5 to about 17.5; R, R¹, and R² are each independently selected from hydrogen and C₁ -C₃ alkyl, provided R, R¹, and R² are not all hydrogen; M is a water soluble cation; w is an integer from 0 to 13; x is an integer from 0 to 13; y is an integer from 0 to 13; z is an integer of at least 1; w+x+y+z is from 8 to 14; EO/PO are alkoxy moieties, preferably selected from ethoxy, propoxy, and mixed ethoxy/propoxy groups, wherein m is at least about 0.01, preferably within the range of from about 0.1 to about 30, more preferably from about 0.5 to about 10, and most preferably from about 1 to about 5; provided that when R² is C₁ -C₃ alkyl the ratio of surfactants having z equal to 2 or greater to surfactants having z of 1 is at least about 1:1, preferably at least about 1.5:1, more preferably at least about 3:1, and most preferably at least about 4:1. Also preferred are surfactant compositions when R² is C₁ -C₃ alkyl comprising less than about 50%, preferably less than about 40%, more preferably less than about 25%, most preferably less than about 20%, of branched primary alkyl alkoxylated sulfate having the above formula wherein z equals 1.

Preferred mono-methyl branched primary alkyl ethoxylated sulfates are selected from the group consisting of: 3-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 4-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 5-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 6-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 7-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 8-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 9-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 10-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 11-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 12-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 13-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 3-methyl hexadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 4-methyl hexadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 5-methyl hexadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 6-methyl hexadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 7-methyl hexadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 8-methyl hexadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 9-methyl hexadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 10-methyl hexadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 11-methyl hexadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 12-methyl hexadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 13-methyl hexadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 14methyl hexadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, and mixtures thereof, wherein the compounds are ethoxylated with an average degree of ethoxylation of from about 0.1 to about 10.

Preferred di-methyl branched primary alkyl ethoxylated sulfates selected from the group consisting of: 2,3-methyl tetradecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 2,4-methyl tetradecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 2,5-methyl tetradecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 2,6-methyl tetradecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 2,7-methyl tetradecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 2,8-methyl tetradecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 2,9-methyl tetradecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 2,10-methyl tetradecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 2,11-methyl tetradecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 2,12-methyl tetradecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 2,3-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 2,4-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 2,5-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 2,6-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 2,7-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 2,8-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 2,9-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 2,10-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 2,11-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 2,12-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, 2,13-methyl pentadecanol ethoxylated sulfate, and mixtures thereof, wherein the compounds are ethoxylated with an average degree of ethoxylation of from about 0.1 to about 10.

Preparation of Mid-chain Branched Surfactants

The following reaction scheme outlines a general approach to the preparation of the mid-chain branched primary alcohol useful for alkoxylating and/or sulfating to prepare the mid-chain branched primary alkyl surfactants of the present invention. ##STR29##

An alkyl halide is converted to a Grignard reagent and the Grignard is reacted with a haloketone. After conventional acid hydrolysis, acetylation and thermal elimination of acetic acid, an intermediate olefin is produced (not shown in the scheme) which is hydrogenated forthwith using any convenient hydrogenation catalyst such as Pd/C.

This route is favorable over others in that the branch, in this illustration a 5-methyl branch, is introducedearly in the reaction sequence.

Formylation of the alkyl halide resulting from the first hydrogenation step yields alcohol product, as shown in the scheme. This can be alkoxylated using standard techniques and/or sulfated using any convenient sulfating agent, e.g., chlorosulfonic acid, SO3/air, or oleum, to yield the final branched primary alkyl surfactant. There is flexibility to extend the branching one additional carbon beyond that which is achieved by a single formylation. Such extension can, for example, be accomplished by reaction with ethylene oxide. See "Grignard Reactions of Nonmetallic Substances", M. S. Kharasch and O. Reinmuth, Prentice-Hall, N.Y., 1954; J. Org. Chem., J. Cason and W. R. Winans, Vol. 15 (1950), pp 139-147; J. Org Chem., J. Cason et al., Vol. 13 (1948), pp 239-248; J. Org Chem., J. Cason et al., Vol. 14 (1949), pp 147-154; and J. Org Chem., J. Cason et al., Vol. 15 (1950), pp 135-138 all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

In variations of the above procedure, alternate haloketones or Grignard reagents may be used. PBr3 halogenation of the alcohol from formylation or ethoxylation can be used to accomplish an iterative chain extension.

The preferred mid-chained branched primary alkyl alkoxylated sulfates (as well as the polyoxyalkylenes and alkyl sulfates, by choosing to only alkoxylate or sulfate the intermediate alcohol produced) of the present invention can also be readily prepared as follows: ##STR30##

A conventional bromoalcohol is reacted with triphenylphosphine followed by sodium hydride, suitably in dimethylsulfoxide/tetrahydrofuran, to form a Wittig adduct. The Wittig adduct is reacted with an alpha methyl ketone, forming an internally unsaturated methyl-branched alcoholate. Hydrogenation followed by alkoxylation and/or sulfation yields the desired mid-chain branched primary alkyl surfactant. Although the Wittig approach does not allow the practitioner to extend the hydrocarbon chain, as in the Grignard sequence, the Wittig typically affords higher yields. See Agricultural and Biological Chemistry, M. Horiike et al., vol. 42 (1978), pp 1963-1965 included herein by reference.

Any alternative synthetic procedure in accordance with the invention may be used to prepare the branched primary alkyl surfactants. The mid-chain branched primary alkyl surfactants may, in addition be synthesized or formulated in the presence of the conventional homologs, for example any of those which may be formed in an industrial process which produces 2-alkyl branching as a result of hydroformylation. Mid-chain branched surfactant mixtures of the present invention are routinely added to other known commercial alkyl surfactants contained in the final laundry product formulation.

In certain preferred embodiments of the surfactant mixtures of the present invention, especially those derived from fossil fuel sources involving commercial processes, comprise at least 1 mid-chain branched primary alkyl surfactant, preferably at least 2, more preferably at least 5, most preferably at least 8.

Particularly suitable for preparation of certain surfactant mixtures of the present invention are "oxo" reactions wherein a branched chain olefin is subjected to catalytic isomerization and hydroformylation prior to alkoxylation and/or sulfation. The preferred processes resulting in such mixtures utilize fossil fuels as the starting material feedstock. Preferred processes utilize Oxo reaction on linear olefins (alpha or internal) with a limited amount of branching. Suitable olefins may be made by dimerization of linear alpha or internal olefins, by controlled oligomerization of low molecular weight linear olefins, by skeletal rearrangement of detergent range olefins, by dehydrogenation/skeletal rearrangement of detergent range paraffins, or by Fischer-Tropsch reaction. These reactions will in general be controlled to:

1) give a large proportion of olefins in the desired detergent range (while allowing for the addition of a carbon atom in the subsequent Oxo reaction),

2) produce a limited number of branches, preferably mid-chain,

3) produce C₁ -C₃ branches, more preferably ethyl, most preferably methyl,

4) limit or eliminate gem dialkyl branching i.e. to avoid formation of quaternary carbon atoms. The suitable olefins can undergo Oxo reaction to give primary alcohols either directly or indirectly through the corresonding aldehydes. When an internal olefin is used, an Oxo catalyst is normally used which is capable of prior pre-isomerization of internal olefins primarily to alpha olefins. While a separately catalyzed (i.e. non-Oxo) internal to alpha isomerization could be effected, this is optional. On the other hand, if the olefin-forming step itself results directly in an alpha olefin (e.g. with high pressure Fischer-Tropsch olefins of detergent range), then use of a non-isomerizing Oxo catalyst is not only possible, but preferred.

The process described herein above gives the more preferred 5-methylhexadecyl surfactants in higher yield than the less preferred 2,4-dimethylpentadecyl surfactants. This mixture is desirable under the metes and bounds of the present invention in that each product comprises at total of 17 carbon atoms with linear alkyl chains having at least 13 carbon atoms.

The following examples provide methods for synthesizing various compounds useful in the present invention compositions.

EXAMPLE I Preparation of sodium 7-methylhexadecyl ethoxylate (E2) and ethoxylated sulfate Synthesis of (6-hydroxyhexyl) triphenylphosphonium bromide

Into a 5L, 3 neck round bottom flask fitted with nitrogen inlet, condenser, thermometer, mechanical stirring and nitrogen outlet is added 6-bromo-1-hexanol (500 g, 2.76 mol), triphenylphosphine (768 g, 2.9 mol) and acetonitrile (1800 ml) under nitrogen. The reaction mixture is heated to reflux for 72 hrs. The reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature and transferred into a 5L beaker. The product is recrystallized from anhydrous ethyl ether (1.5L) at 10° C. Vacuum filtration followed by washing with ethyl ether and drying in a vacuum oven at 50° C. for 2 hrs. gives 1140 g of the desired product as white crystals.

Synthesis of 7- methylhexadecene-1-ol

Into a dried 5L, 3 neck round bottom flask fitted with mechanical stirring, nitrogen inlet, dropping funnel, thermometer and nitrogen outlet is added 70.2 g of 60% sodium hydride (1.76 mol) in mineral oil. The mineral oil is removed by washing with hexanes. Anhydrous dimethyl sulfoxide (500 ml) is added to the flask and the mixture is heated to 70° C. until evolution of hydrogen stops. The reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature followed by addition of 1L of anhydrous tetrahydrofuran. (6-hydroxyhexyl) triphenylphosphonium bromide (443.4 g, 1 mol) is slurried with warm anhydrous dimethyl sulfoxide (50° C., 500 ml) and slowly added to the reaction mixture through the dropping funnel while keeping it at 25-30° C. The mixture is stirred for 30 minutes at room temperature at which time 2-undecanone (187 g, 1.1 mol) is slowly added through a dropping funnel. Reaction is slightly exothermic and cooling is needed to maintain 25-30° C. The mixture is stirred for 18 hr. and then poured into a 5L beaker containing 1L purified water with stirring. The oil phase (top) is allowed to separate out in a separatory funnel and the water phase is removed. The water phase is washed with hexanes (500 ml) and the organic phase is separated and combined with the oil phase from the water wash. The organic mixture is then extracted with water 3 times (500 ml each) followed by vacuum distillation to collect the clear, oily product (132 g) at 140° C. and 1 mm Hg.

Hydrogenation of 7- methylhexadecene-1-ol

Into a 3L rocking autoclave liner is added 7-methylhexadecene-1-ol (130 g, 0.508 mol), methanol (300 ml) and platinum on carbon (10% by weight, 35 g). The mixture is hydrogenated at 180° C. under 1200 psig of hydrogen for 13 hrs., cooled and vacuum filtered thru Celite 545 with washing of the Celite 545, suitably with methylene chloride. If needed, the filtration can be repeated to eliminate traces of Pt catalyst, and magnesium sulfate can be used to dry the product. The solution of product is concentrated on a rotary evaporator to obtain a clear oil (124 g).

Alkoxylation of 7-methylhexadecanol

Into a dried 1L 3 neck round bottom flask fitted with a nitrogen inlet, mechanical stirrer, and a y-tube fitted with a thermometer and a gas outlet is added the alcohol from the preceeding step. For purposes of removing trace amounts of moisture, the alcohol is sparged with nitrogen for about 30 minutes at 80-100° C. Continuing with a nitrogen sweep, sodium metal is added as the catalyst and allowed to melt with stirring at 120-140° C. With vigorous stirring, ethylene oxide gas is added in 140 minutes while keeping the reaction temperature at 120-140° C. After the correct weight (equal to two equivalents of ethylene oxide) has been added, nitrogen is swept through the apparatus for 20-30 minutes as the sample is allowed to cool. The desired 7-methylhexadecyl ethoxylate (average of 2 ethoxylates per molecule) product is then collected.

Sulfation of 7-methylhexadecyl ethoxylate (E2)

Into a dried 1 L 3 neck round bottom flask fitted with a nitrogen inlet, dropping funnel, thermometer, mechanical stirring and nitrogen outlet is added chloroform and 7-methylhexadecyl ethoxylate (E2) from the preceeding step. Chlorosulfonic acid is slowly added to the stirred mixture while maintaining 25-30° C. temperature with an ice bath. Once HCl evolution has stopped slowly add sodium methoxide (25% in methanol) while keeping temperature at 25-30° C. until a aliquot at 5% concentration in water maintains a pH of 10.5. To the mixture is added hot ethanol (55° C.) and vacuum filtered immediately. The filtrate is concentrated to a slurry on a rotary evaporator, cooled and then poured into ethyl ether. The mixture is chilled to 5° C. and vacuum filtered to provide the desired 7-methylhexadecyl ethoxylate (average of 2 ethoxylates per molecule) sulfate, sodium salt, product.

EXAMPLE II Synthesis of sodium 7-methylpentadecyl ethoxylate (E5) and ethoxylated sulfate Synthesis of (6-hydroxyhexyl) Triphenylphosphonium Bromide

Into a 5L, 3 neck round bottom flask fitted with nitrogen inlet, condenser, thermometer, mechanical stirring and nitrogen outlet is added 6-bromo-1-hexanol (500 g, 2.76 mol), triphenylphosphine (768 g, 2.9 mol) and acetonitrile (1800 ml) under nitrogen. The reaction mixture is heated to reflux for 72 hrs. The reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature and transferred into a 5L beaker. The product is recrystallized from anhydrous ethyl ether (1.5L) at 10° C. Vacuum filtration of the mixture followed by washing the white crystals with ethyl ether and drying in a vacuum oven at 50° C. for 2 hrs. gives 1140 g of the desired product.

Synthesis of 7- methylpentadecene-1-ol

Into a dried 5L, 3 neck round bottom flask fitted with mechanical stirring, nitrogen inlet, dropping funnel, thermometer and nitrogen outlet is added 80 g of 60% sodium hydride (2.0 mol) in mineral oil. The mineral oil is removed by washing with hexanes. Anhydrous dimethyl sulfoxide (500 ml) is added to the flask and heated to 70° C. until evolution of hydrogen stops. The reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature followed by addition of 1L of anhydrous tetrahydrofuran. (6-hydroxyhexyl) triphenylphosphonium bromide (443.4 g, 1 mol) is slurried with warm anhydrous dimethyl sulfoxide (50° C., 500 ml) and slowly added to the reaction mixture thru the dropping funnel while keeping the reaction at 25-30° C. The reaction is stirred for 30 minutes at room temperature at which time 2-decanone (171.9 g, 1.1 mol) is slowly added thru a dropping funnel. Reaction is slightly exothermic and cooling is needed to maintain 25-30° C. Mixture is stirred for 18 hrs. and then poured into a separatory funnel containing 600 ml of purified water and 300 ml of hexanes. After shaking the oil phase (top) is allowed to separate out and the water phase is removed. The extractions of the oil phase are continued using water until both phases are clear. The organic phase is collected, vacuum distilled and purified by liquid chromatography (90:10 hexanes:ethyl acetate, silica gel stationary phase) to obtain a clear, oily product (119.1 g).

Hydrogenation of 7- methylpentadecene-1-ol

Into a 3L rocking autoclave glass liner (Autoclave Engineers) is added 7-Methylpentadecene-1-ol (122 g, 0.508 mol), methanol (300 ml) and platinum on carbon (10% by weight, 40 g). The mixture is hydrogenated at 180° C. under 1200 psig of hydrogen for 13 hrs., cooled and vacuum filtered thru Celite 545 with washing of Celite 545 with methylene chloride. The organic mixture is still dark from platinum catalyst so the filtration procedure is repeated with concentration on a rotary evaporator; dilution is carried out with methylene chloride (500 ml) and magnesium sulfate is added to dry product. Vacuum filter thru Celite 545 and concentrate filtrate on a rotary evaporator to obtain a clear oil (119 g).

Alkoxylation of 7-methylpentadecanol

Into a dried 1L 3 neck round bottom flask fitted with a nitrogen inlet, mechanical stirrer, and a y-tube fitted with a thermometer and a gas outlet is added the alcohol from the preceeding step. For purposes of removing trace amounts of moisture, the alcohol is sparged with nitrogen for about 30 minutes at 80-100° C. Continuing with a nitrogen sweep, sodium metal is added as the catalyst and allowed to melt with stirring at 120-140° C. With vigorous stirring, ethylene oxide gas is added in 140 minutes while keeping the reaction temperature at 120-140° C. After the correct weight (equal to five equivalents of ethylene oxide) has been added, nitrogen is swept through the apparatus for 20-30 minutes as the sample is allowed to cool. The desired 7-methylpentadecyl ethoxylate (average of 5 ethoxylates per molecule) product is then collected.

Sulfation of 7-methylpentadecyl ethoxylate (E5)

Into a dried 1L 3 neck round bottom flask fitted with a nitrogen inlet, dropping funnel, thermometer, mechanical stirring and nitrogen outlet is added chloroform and 7-methylpentadecyl ethoxylate (E5) from the preceeding step. Chlorosulfonic acid is slowly added to the stirred mixture while maintaining 25-30° C. temperature with a ice bath. Once HCl evolution has stopped slowly add sodium methoxide (25% in methanol) while keeping temperature at 25-30° C. until a aliquot at 5% concentration in water maintains a pH of 10.5. To the mixture is added methanol and 1-butanol. Vacuum filter off the inorganic salt precipitate and remove methanol from the filtrate on a rotary evaporator. Cool to room temperature, add ethyl ether and let stand for 1 hour. The precipitate is collected by vacuum filtration to provide the desired 7-methylpentadecyl ethoxylate (average of 5 ethoxylates per molecule) sulfate, sodium salt, product.

EXAMPLE III Synthesis of sodium 7-methylheptadecyl ethoxylated (E1.5) and sulfate Synthesis of (6-Hydroxyhexyl) Triphenylphosphonium bromide

Into a 5L, 3 neck round bottom flask fitted with nitrogen inlet, condenser, thermometer, mechanical stirring and nitrogen outlet is added 6-bromo-1-hexanol (500 g, 2.76 mol), triphenylphosphine (768 g, 2.9 mol) and acetonitrile (1800 ml) under nitrogen. The reaction mixture is heated to reflux for 72 hrs. The reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature and transferred into a 5L beaker. The product is recrystallized from anhydrous ethyl ether (1.5L) at 10° C. Vacuum filtration of the mixture followed by washing the white crystals with ethyl ether and drying in a vacuum oven at 50° C. for 2 hrs. gives 1140 g of the desired product.

Synthesis of 7- methylheptadecene-1-ol

Into a dried 5L, 3 neck round bottom flask fitted with mechanical stirring, nitrogen inlet, dropping funnel, thermometer and nitrogen outlet is added 80 g of 60% sodium hydride (2.0 mol) in mineral oil. The mineral oil is removed by washing with hexanes. Anhydrous dimethyl sulfoxide (500 ml) is added to the flask and heated to 70° C. until evolution of hydrogen stops. The reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature followed by addition of 1L of anhydrous tetrahydrofuran. (6-hydroxyhexyl) triphenylphosphonium bromide (443.4 g, 1 mol) is slurried with warm anhydrous dimethyl sulfoxide (50° C., 500 ml) and slowly added to the reaction mixture thru the dropping funnel while keeping the reaction at 25-30° C. The reaction is stirred for 30 minutes at room temperature at which time 2-dodecanone (184.3 g, 1.1 mol) is slowly added thru a dropping funnel. Reaction is slightly exothermic and cooling is needed to maintain 25-30° C. Mixture is stirred for 18 hrs. and then poured into a separatory funnel containing 600 ml of purified water and 300 ml of hexanes. After shaking the oil phase (top) is allowed to separate out and the water phase is removed which is cloudy. The extractions are continued using water until the water phase and the organic phase become clear. The organic phase is collected and purified by liquid chromatography (mobile phase-hexanes, stationary phase-silica gel ) to obtain a clear, oily product (116 g). HNMR of the final product (in deuterium oxide) indicates a CH₂ --OSO₃ -triplet at the 3.8 ppm resonance, CH₂ --CH₂ --OSO₃ -- multiplet at the 1.5 ppm resonance, CH₂ of the alkyl chain at the 0.9-1.3 ppm resonance and CH--CH₃ branch point overlapping the R--CH₂ CH₃ terminal methyl group at the 0.8 ppm resonance.

Hydrogenation of 7-methylheptadecene-1-ol

Into a 3L rocking autoclave glass liner (Autoclave Engineers) is added 7-Methylheptadecene-1-ol (116 g, 0.433 mol), methanol (300 ml) and platinum on carbon (10% by weight, 40 g). The mixture is hydrogenated at 180° C. under 1200 psig of hydrogen for 13 hrs., cooled and vacuum filtered thru Celite 545 with washing of Celite 545 with methylene chloride. Vacuum filter thru Celite 545 and concentrate filtrate on a rotary evaporator to obtain a clear oil (108 g).

Alkoxylation of 7-methylpentadecanol

Into a dried 1L 3 neck round bottom flask fitted with a nitrogen inlet, mechanical stirrer, and a y-tube fitted with a thermometer and a gas outlet is added the alcohol from the preceeding step. For purposes of removing trace amounts of moisture, the alcohol is sparged with nitrogen for about 30 minutes at 80-100° C. Continuing with a nitrogen sweep, sodium metal is added as the catalyst and allowed to melt with stirring at 120-140° C. With vigorous stirring, ethylene oxide gas is added in 140 minutes while keeping the reaction temperature at 120-140° C. After the correct weight (equal to 1.5 equivalents of ethylene oxide) has been added, nitrogen is swept through the apparatus for 20-30 minutes as the sample is allowed to cool. The desired 7-methylheptadecyl ethoxylate (average of 1.5 ethoxylates per molecule) product is then collected.

Sulfation of 7-methylheptadecyl ethoxylate (E1.5)

Into a dried 1L 3 neck round bottom flask fitted with a nitrogen inlet, dropping funnel, thermometer, mechanical stirring and nitrogen outlet is added chloroform and 7-methylheptadecyl ethoxylate (E1.5) from the preceeding step. Chlorosulfonic acid is slowly added to the stirred mixture while maintaining 25-30° C. temperature with a ice bath. Once HCl evolution has stopped slowly add sodium methoxide (25% in methanol) while keeping temperature at 25-30° C. until a aliquot at 5% concentration in water maintains a pH of 10.5. To the mixture is added hot methanol (45° C.) to dissolve the branched sulfate followed immediately by vacuum filtration to remove the inorganic salt precipitate and repeated a second time. The filtrate is then cooled to 5° C. at which time ethyl ether is added and let stand for 1 hour. The precipitate is collected by vacuum filtration to provide the desired 7-methylheptadecyl ethoxylate (average of 1.5 ethoxylates per molecule) sulfate, sodium salt, product.

EXAMPLE IV

The following Shell Research experimental test alcohol samples are ethoxylated (average ethoxylation of 2.5) and then sulfated by the following procedure.

    ______________________________________                                         .sup.13 C-NMR Results For Branched Alcohols Prepared                           Total Number of Carbons                                                                            16       17     18                                         ______________________________________                                         Avg. Number of Branches per                                                                        2.0      1.7    2.1                                        Molecule                                                                       Average Branch Position Relative To                                            Hydroxyl Carbon                                                                % at C4 and higher  56%      55%    52%                                        % at C3             26%      21%    25%                                        % at C2             18%      24%    23%                                        Type of Branching                                                              % propyl and higher 31%      35%    30%                                        % ethyl             12%      10%    12%                                        % methyl            57%      55%    58%                                        ______________________________________                                    

Into a dried 250 ml 3 neck round bottom flask fitted with a nitrogen inlet, mechanical stirrer, and a y-tube fitted with a thermometer and a gas outlet is added the C16 alcohol (48.4 g, 0.2 mol) above. For purposes of removing trace amounts of moisture, the alcohol is sparged with nitrogen for about 30 minutes at 80-100° C. Continuing with a nitrogen sweep, sodium metal (0.23 g, 0.01 mol) is added as the catalyst and allowed to melt with stirring at 120-140° C. With vigorous stirring, ethylene oxide gas (22 g, 0.5 mol) is added in 140 minutes while keeping the reaction temperature at 120-140° C. After the correct weight of ethylene oxide (average 2.5 ethoxylates per molecule) has been added, nitrogen is swept through the apparatus for 20-30 minutes as the sample is allowed to cool. The gold liquid product (69 g, 0.196 mol) is bottled under nitrogen.

Sulfation of this C16 ethoxylate utilizes the following procedure. Into a dried 500 ml 3 neckround bottom flask fitted with a gas inlet, dropping funnel, mechanical stirrer, and a y-tube fitted with a thermometer and a gas outlet is added the C16 ethoxylate from the previous step (63.4 g, 0.18 mol) and diethyl ether (75 ml). Chlorosulfonic acid (22.1 g, 0.19 mol) is added slowly to the stirred mixture while maintaining a reaction temperature of 5-15° C. with an ice water bath. After the chlorosulfonic acid is added a slow nitrogen sweep and a vacuum (10-15 inches Hg) is begun to remove HCl. Also the reaction is warmed to 30-40° C. with the addition of a warm water bath. After about 45 minutes the vacuum is increased to 25-30 inches Hg and maintained for an additional 45 minutes. The acidic reaction mixture is slowly poured into a vigorously stirred beaker of 25% sodium methoxide (43.2 g, 0.2 mol) and methanol (200 ml) that is cooled in an ice water bath. After pH>12 is confirmed the solution is allowed to stir about 15 minutes then poured into a glass dish. Most of the solvent is allowed to evaporate overnight in the fume hood. The next morning the dish is transferred to a vacuum drying oven. The sample is allowed to dry all day and overnight at 40-60° C. with 25-30 inches Hg vacuum. Yellow tacky solid (80.9 g; 93% active) C16 ethoxylated (E2.5) sulfate, sodium salt, product is collected.

EXAMPLE V Preparation of sodium 7-methylhexadecyl sulfate Sulfation of 7-methylhexadecanol

Into a dried 1L 3 neck round bottom flask fitted with a nitrogen inlet, dropping funnel, thermometer, mechanical stirring and nitrogen outlet is added chloroform (300 ml) and 7-methylhexadecanol (124 g, 0.484 mol), prepared as an intermediate in Example I. Chlorosulfonic acid (60 g, 0.509 mol) is slowly added to the stirred mixture while maintaining 25-30° C. temperature with a ice bath. Once HCl evolution has stopped (1 hr.) slowly add sodium methoxide (25% in methanol) while keeping temperature at 25-30° C. until an aliquot at 5% concentration in water maintains a pH of 10.5. To the mixture is added hot ethanol (55° C., 2L). The mixture is vacuum filtered immediately. The filtrate is concentrated to a slurry on a rotary evaporator, cooled and then poured into 2L of ethyl ether. The mixture is chilled to 5° C., at which point crystallization occurs, and vacuum filtered. The crystals are dried in a vacuum oven at 50° C. for 3 hrs. to obtain a white solid (136 g, 92% active by cat SO₃ titration).

EXAMPLE VI Synthesis of sodium 7-methylpentadecyl sulfate Sulfation of 7-methylpentadecanol

Into a dried 1L 3 neck round bottom flask fitted with a nitrogen inlet, dropping funnel, thermometer, mechanical stirring and nitrogen outlet is added chloroform (300 ml) and 7-methylpentadecanol (119 g, 0.496 mol), prepared as an intermediate in Example II. Chlorosulfonic acid (61.3 g, 0.52 mol) is slowly added to the stirred mixture while maintaining 25-30° C. temperature with an ice bath. Once HCl evolution has stopped (1 hr.) slowly add sodium methoxide (25% in methanol) while keeping temperature at 25-30° C. until a aliquot at 5% concentration in water maintains a pH of 10.5. To the mixture is added methanol (1L) and 300 ml of 1-butanol. Vacuum filter off the inorganic salt precipitate and remove methanol from the filtrate on a rotary evaporator. Cool to room temperature, add 1L of ethyl ether and let stand for 1 hour. The precipitate is collected by vacuum filtration. The product is dried in a vacuum oven at 50° C. for 3 hrs. to obtain a white solid (82 g, 90% active by cat SO₃ titration).

EXAMPLE VII Synthesis of sodium 7-methylheptadecyl sulfate Sulfation of 7-methylheptadecanol

Into a dried 1L 3 neck round bottom flask fitted with a nitrogen inlet, dropping funnel, thermometer, mechanical stirring and nitrogen outlet is added chloroform (300 ml) and 7-Methylheptadecanol (102 g, 0.378 mol), prepared as an intermediate in Example III. Chlorosulfonic acid (46.7 g, 0.40 mol) is slowly added to the stirred mixture while maintaining 25-30° C. temperature with a ice bath. Once HCl evolution has stopped (1 hr.) slowly add sodium methoxide (25% in methanol) while keeping temperature at 25-30° C. until an aliquot at 5% concentration in water maintains a pH of 10.5. To the mixture is added hot methanol (45° C.,1L) to dissolve the branched sulfate followed immediately by vacuum filtration to remove the inorganic salt precipitate and repeated a second time. The filtrate is then cooled to 5° C. at which time 1L of ethyl ether is added and let stand for 1 hour. The precipitate is collected by vacuum filtration. The product is dried in a vacuum oven at 50° C. for 3 hrs. to obtain a white solid (89 g, 88% active by cat SO₃ titration). HNMR of the final product (in deuterium oxide) indicates a CH₂ --OSO₃ -triplet at the 3.8 ppm resonance, CH₂ --CH₂ --OSO₃ -- multiplet at the 1.5 ppm resonance, CH₂ of the alkyl chain at the 0.9-1.3 ppm resonance and CH--CH₃ branch point overlapping the R--CH₂ CH₃ terminal methyl group at the 0.8 ppm resonance. Mass spectrometry data shows a molecular ion peak with a mass of 349.1 corresponding to the 7-methylheptadecyl sulfate ion. Also shown is the methyl branch at the 7 position due to the loss of 29 mass units at that position.

The following two analytical methods for characterizing branching in the present invention surfactant compositions are useful:

1) Separation and Identification of Components in Fatty Alcohols (prior to alkoxylation or after hydrolysis of alcohol sulfate for analytical purposes). The position and length of branching found in the precursor fatty alcohol materials is determined by GC/MS techniques [see: D. J. Harvey, Biomed, Environ. Mass Spectrom (1989). 18(9), 719-23; D. J. Harvey, J. M. Tiffany, J. Chromatogr. (1984), 301(1), 173-87; K. A. Karlsson, B. E. Samuelsson, G. O. Steen, Chem. Phys. Lipids (1973), 11(1), 17-38].

2) Identification of Separated Fatty Alcohol Alkoxy Sulfate Components by MS/MS. The position and length of branching is also determinable by Ion Spray-MS/MS or FAB-MS/MS techniques on previously isolated fatty alcohol sulfate components.

The average total carbon atoms of the branched primary alkyl surfactants herein can be calculated from the hydroxyl value of the precursor fatty alcohol mix or from the hydroxyl value of the alcohols recovered by extraction after hydrolysis of the alcohol sulfate mix according to common procedures, such as outlined in "Bailey's Industrial Oil and Fat Products", Volume 2, Fourth Edition, edited by Daniel Swern, pp. 440-441.

Bleaching Compounds--Bleaching Agents and Bleach Activators--The detergent compositions herein preferably further contain bleaching agents or bleaching compositions containing a bleaching agent and one or more bleach activators. Bleaching agents will typically be at levels of from about 1% to about 30%, more typically from about 5% to about 20%, of the detergent composition, especially for fabric laundering. If present, the amount of bleach activators will typically be from about 0.1% to about 60%, more typically from about 0.5% to about 40% of the bleaching composition comprising the bleaching agent-plus-bleach activator.

The bleaching agents used herein can be any of the bleaching agents useful for detergent compositions in textile cleaning, hard surface cleaning, or other cleaning purposes that are now known or become known. These include oxygen bleaches as well as other bleaching agents. Perborate bleaches, e.g., sodium perborate (e.g., mono- or tetra-hydrate) can be used herein.

Another category of bleaching agent that can be used without restriction encompasses percarboxylic acid bleaching agents and salts thereof. Suitable examples of this class of agents include magnesium monoperoxyphthalate hexahydrate, the magnesium salt of metachloro perbenzoic acid, 4-nonylamino-4-oxoperoxybutyric acid and diperoxydodecanedioic acid. Such bleaching agents are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,781, Hartman, issued Nov. 20, 1984, U.S. patent application 740,446, Burns et al, filed Jun. 3, 1985, European Patent Application 0,133,354, Banks et al, published Feb. 20, 1985, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,412,934, Chung et al, issued Nov. 1, 1983. Highly preferred bleaching agents also include 6-nonylamino-6-oxoperoxycaproic acid as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,551, issued Jan. 6, 1987 to Burns et al.

Peroxygen bleaching agents can also be used. Suitable peroxygen bleaching compounds include sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate and equivalent "percarbonate" bleaches, sodium pyrophosphate peroxyhydrate, urea peroxyhydrate, and sodium peroxide. Persulfate bleach (e.g., OXONE, manufactured commercially by DuPont) can also be used.

A preferred percarbonate bleach comprises dry particles having an average particle size in the range from about 500 micrometers to about 1,000 micrometers, not more than about 10% by weight of said particles being smaller than about 200 micrometers and not more than about 10% by weight of said particles being larger than about 1,250 micrometers. Optionally, the percarbonate can be coated with silicate, borate or water-soluble surfactants. Percarbonate is available from various commercial sources such as FMC, Solvay and Tokai Denka.

Mixtures of bleaching agents can also be used.

Peroxygen bleaching agents, the perborates, the percarbonates, etc., are preferably combined with bleach activators, which lead to the in situ production in aqueous solution (i.e., during the washing process) of the peroxy acid corresponding to the bleach activator. Various nonlimiting examples of activators are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,854, issued Apr. 10, 1990 to Mao et al, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,412,934. The nonanoyloxybenzene sulfonate (NOBS) and tetraacetyl ethylene diamine (TAED) activators are typical, and mixtures thereof can also be used. See also U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,551 for other typical bleaches and activators useful herein.

Highly preferred amido-derived bleach activators are those of the formulae:

    R.sup.1 N(R.sup.5)C(O)R.sup.2 C(O)L or R.sup.1 C(O)N(R.sup.5)R.sup.2 C(O)L

wherein R¹ is an alkyl group containing from about 6 to about 12 carbon atoms, R² is an alkylene containing from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, R⁵ is H or alkyl, aryl, or alkaryl containing from about 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, and L is any suitable leaving group. A leaving group is any group that is displaced from the bleach activator as a consequence of the nucleophilic attack on the bleach activator by the perhydrolysis anion. A preferred leaving group is phenyl sulfonate.

Preferred examples of bleach activators of the above formulae include (6-octanamido-caproyl)oxybenzenesulfonate, (6-nonanamidocaproyl)oxybenzenesulfonate, (6-decanamido-caproyl)oxybenzenesulfonate, and mixtures thereof as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,551, incorporated herein by reference.

Another class of bleach activators comprises the benzoxazin-type activators disclosed by Hodge et al in U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,723, issued Oct. 30, 1990, incorporated herein by reference. A highly preferred activator of the benzoxazin-type is: ##STR31##

Still another class of preferred bleach activators includes the acyl lactam activators, especially acyl caprolactams and acyl valerolactams of the formulae: ##STR32## wherein R⁶ is H or an alkyl, aryl, alkoxyaryl, or alkaryl group containing from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms. Highly preferred lactam activators include benzoyl caprolactam, octanoyl caprolactam, 3,5,5-trimethylhexanoyl caprolactam, nonanoyl caprolactam, decanoyl caprolactam, undecenoyl caprolactam, benzoyl valerolactam, octanoyl valerolactam, decanoyl valerolactam, undecenoyl valerolactam, nonanoyl valerolactam, 3,5,5-trimethylhexanoyl valerolactam and mixtures thereof. See also U.S. Pat. No. 4,545,784, issued to Sanderson, Oct. 8, 1985, incorporated herein by reference, which discloses acyl caprolactams, including benzoyl caprolactam, adsorbed into sodium perborate.

Bleaching agents other than oxygen bleaching agents are also known in the art and can be utilized herein. One type of non-oxygen bleaching agent of particular interest includes photoactivated bleaching agents such as the sulfonated zinc and/or aluminum phthalocyanines. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,033,718, issued Jul. 5, 1977 to Holcombe et al. If used, detergent compositions will typically contain from about 0.025% to about 1.25%, by weight, of such bleaches, especially sulfonate zinc phthalocyanine.

If desired, the bleaching compounds can be catalyzed by means of a manganese compound. Such compounds are well known in the art and include, for example, the manganese-based catalysts disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,621, U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,594; U.S. Pat. No. 5,194,416; U.S. Pat. No. 5,114,606; and European Pat. App. Pub. Nos. 549,271A1, 549,272A1, 544,440A2, and 544,490A1; Preferred examples of these catalysts include Mn^(IV) ₂ (u-O)₃ (1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane)₂ -(PF₆)₂, Mn^(III) ₂ (u-O)₁ (u-OAc)₂ (1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane)₂ (ClO₄)₂, Mn^(IV) ₄ (u-O)₆ (1,4,7-triazacyclononane)₄ (ClO₄)₄, Mn^(III) Mn^(IV) ₄ (u-O)₁ (u-OAc)₂ -(1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane)₂ (ClO₄)₃, Mn^(IV) (1,4,7-trimethyl- 1,4,7-triazacyclononane)--(OCH₃)₃ (PF₆), and mixtures thereof. Other metal-based bleach catalysts include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,430,243 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,114,611. The use of manganese with various complex ligands to enhance bleaching is also reported in the following U.S. Pat. Nos.: 4,728,455; 5,284,944; 5,246,612; 5,256,779; 5,280,117; 5,274,147; 5,153,161; and 5,227,084.

As a practical matter, and not by way of limitation, the compositions and processes herein can be adjusted to provide on the order of at least one part per ten million of the active bleach catalyst species in the aqueous washing liquor, and will preferably provide from about 0.1 ppm to about 700 ppm, more preferably from about 1 ppm to about 500 ppm, of the catalyst species in the laundry liquor.

Cobalt bleach catalysts useful herein are known, and are described, for example, in M. L. Tobe, "Base Hydrolysis of Transition-Metal Complexes", Adv. Inorg. Bioinorg. Mech., (1983), 2, pages 1-94. The most preferred cobalt catalyst useful herein are cobalt pentaamine acetate salts having the formula [Co(NH₃)₅ OAc] T_(y), wherein "OAc" represents an acetate moiety and "T_(y) " is an anion, and especially cobalt pentaamine acetate chloride, [Co(NH₃)₅ OAc]Cl₂ ; as well as [Co(NH₃)₅ OAc](OAc)₂ ; [Co(NH₃)₅ OAc](PF₆)₂ ; [Co(NH₃)₅ OAc](SO₄); [Co(NH₃)₅ OAc](BF₄)₂ ; and [Co(NH₃)₅ OAc](NO₃)₂ (herein "PAC").

These cobalt catalysts are readily prepared by known procedures, such as taught for example in the Tobe article and the references cited therein, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,410, to Diakun et al, issued Mar. 7, 1989, J. Chem. Ed. (1989), 66 (12), 1043-45; The Synthesis and Characterization of Inorganic Compounds, W. L. Jolly (Prentice-Hall; 1970), pp. 461-3; Inorg. Chem., 18, 1497-1502 (1979); Inorg. Chem., 21, 2881-2885 (1982); Inorg. Chem., 18, 2023-2025 (1979); Inorg. Synthesis, 173-176 (1960); and Journal of Physical Chemistry, 56, 22-25 (1952).

As a practical matter, and not by way of limitation, the compositions and cleaning processes herein can be adjusted to provide on the order of at least one part per hundred million of the active bleach catalyst species in the aqueous washing medium, and will preferably provide from about 0.01 ppm to about 25 ppm, more preferably from about 0.05 ppm to about 10 ppm, and most preferably from about 0.1 ppm to about 5 ppm, of the bleach catalyst species in the wash liquor. In order to obtain such levels in the wash liquor of an automatic washing process, typical compositions herein will comprise from about 0.0005% to about 0.2%, more preferably from about 0.004% to about 0.08%, of bleach catalyst, especially manganese or cobalt catalysts, by weight of the cleaning compositions.

Enzymes--Enzymes are preferably included in the present detergent compositions for a variety of purposes, including removal of protein-based, carbohydrate-based, or triglyceride-based stains from substrates, for the prevention of refugee dye transfer in fabric laundering, and for fabric restoration. Suitable enzymes include proteases, amylases, lipases, cellulases, peroxidases, and mixtures thereof of any suitable origin, such as vegetable, animal, bacterial, fungal and yeast origin. Preferred selections are influenced by factors such as pH-activity and/or stability optima, thermostability, and stability to active detergents, builders and the like. In this respect bacterial or fungal enzymes are preferred, such as bacterial amylases and proteases, and fungal cellulases.

"Detersive enzyme", as used herein, means any enzyme having a cleaning, stain removing or otherwise beneficial effect in a laundry, hard surface cleaning or personal care detergent composition. Preferred detersive enzymes are hydrolases such as proteases, amylases and lipases. Preferred enzymes for laundry purposes include, but are not limited to, proteases, cellulases, lipases and peroxidases. Highly preferred for automatic dishwashing are amylases and/or proteases, including both current commercially available types and improved types which, though more and more bleach compatible though successive improvements, have a remaining degree of bleach deactivation susceptibility.

Enzymes are normally incorporated into detergent or detergent additive compositions at levels sufficient to provide a "cleaning-effective amount". The term "cleaning effective amount" refers to any amount capable of producing a cleaning, stain removal, soil removal, whitening, deodorizing, or freshness improving effect on substrates such as fabrics, dishware and the like. In practical terms for current commercial preparations, typical amounts are up to about 5 mg by weight, more typically 0.01 mg to 3 mg, of active enzyme per gram of the detergent composition. Stated otherwise, the compositions herein will typically comprise from 0.001% to 5%, preferably 0.01%-1% by weight of a commercial enzyme preparation. Protease enzymes are usually present in such commercial preparations at levels sufficient to provide from 0.005 to 0.1 Anson units (AU) of activity per gram of composition. For certain detergents, such as in automatic dishwashing, it may be desirable to increase the active enzyme content of the commercial preparation in order to minimize the total amount of non-catalytically active materials and thereby improve spotting/filming or other end-results. Higher active levels may also be desirable in highly concentrated detergent formulations.

Suitable examples of proteases are the subtilisins which are obtained from particular strains of B. subtilis and B. licheniformis. One suitable protease is obtained from a strain of Bacillus, having maximum activity throughout the pH range of 8-12, developed and sold as ESPERASE® by Novo Industries A/S of Denmark, hereinafter "Novo". The preparation of this enzyme and analogous enzymes is described in GB 1,243,784 to Novo. Other suitable proteases include ALCALASE® and SAVINASE® from Novo and MAXATASE® from International Bio-Synthetics, Inc., The Netherlands; as well as Protease A as disclosed in EP 130,756 A, Jan. 9, 1985 and Protease B as disclosed in EP 303,761 A, Apr. 28, 1987 and EP 130,756 A, Jan. 9, 1985. See also a high pH protease from Bacillus sp. NCIMB 40338 described in WO 9318140 A to Novo. Enzymatic detergents comprising protease, one or more other enzymes, and a reversible protease inhibitor are described in WO 9203529 A to Novo. Other preferred proteases include those of WO 9510591 A to Procter & Gamble. When desired, a protease having decreased adsorption and increased hydrolysis is available as described in WO 9507791 to Procter & Gamble. A recombinant trypsin-like protease for detergents suitable herein is described in WO 9425583 to Novo.

In more detail, an especially preferred protease, referred to as "Protease D" is a carbonyl hydrolase variant having an amino acid sequence not found in nature, which is derived from a precursor carbonyl hydrolase by substituting a different amino acid for a plurality of amino acid residues at a position in said carbonyl hydrolase equivalent to position +76, preferably also in combination with one or more amino acid residue positions equivalent to those selected from the group consisting of +99, +101, +103, +104, +107, +123, +27, +105, +109, +126, +128, +135, +156, +166, +195, +197, +204, +206, +210, +216, +217, +218, +222, +260, +265, and/or +274 according to the numbering of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin, as described in WO 95/10615 published Apr. 20, 1995 by Genencor International.

Useful proteases are also described in PCT publications: WO 95/30010 published Nov. 9, 1995 by The Procter & Gamble Company; WO 95/30011 published Nov. 9, 1995 by The Procter & Gamble Company; WO 95/29979 published Nov. 9, 1995 by The Procter & Gamble Company.

Amylases suitable herein, especially for, but not limited to automatic dishwashing purposes, include, for example, α-amylases described in GB 1,296,839 to Novo; RAPIDASE®, International Bio-Synthetics, Inc. and TERMAMYL®, Novo. FUNGAMYL® from Novo is especially useful. Engineering of enzymes for improved stability, e.g., oxidative stability, is known. See, for example J. Biological Chem., Vol. 260, No. 11, June 1985, pp. 6518-6521. Certain preferred embodiments of the present compositions can make use of amylases having improved stability in detergents such as automatic dishwashing types, especially improved oxidative stability as measured against a reference-point of TERMAMYL® in commercial use in 1993. These preferred amylases herein share the characteristic of being "stability-enhanced" amylases, characterized, at a minimum, by a measurable improvement in one or more of: oxidative stability, e.g., to hydrogen peroxide/tetraacetylethylenediamine in buffered solution at pH 9-10; thermal stability, e.g., at common wash temperatures such as about 60° C.; or alkaline stability, e.g., at a pH from about 8 to about 11, measured versus the above-identified reference-point amylase. Stability can be measured using any of the art-disclosed technical tests. See, for example, references disclosed in WO 9402597. Stability-enhanced amylases can be obtained from Novo or from Genencor International. One class of highly preferred amylases herein have the commonality of being derived using site-directed mutagenesis from one or more of the Bacillus amylases, especially the Bacillus α-amylases, regardless of whether one, two or multiple amylase strains are the immediate precursors. Oxidative stability-enhanced amylases vs. the above-identified reference amylase are preferred for use, especially in bleaching, more preferably oxygen bleaching, as distinct from chlorine bleaching, detergent compositions herein. Such preferred amylases include (a) an amylase according to the hereinbefore incorporated WO 9402597, Novo, Feb. 3, 1994, as further illustrated by a mutant in which substitution is made, using alanine or threonine, preferably threonine, of the methionine residue located in position 197 of the B. licheniformis alpha-amylase, known as TERMAMYL®, or the homologous position variation of a similar parent amylase, such as B. amyloliquefaciens, B. subtilis, or B. stearothermophilus; (b) stability-enhanced amylases as described by Genencor International in a paper entitled "Oxidatively Resistant alpha-Amylases" presented at the 207th American Chemical Society National Meeting, Mar. 13-17 1994, by C. Mitchinson. Therein it was noted that bleaches in automatic dishwashing detergents inactivate alpha-amylases but that improved oxidative stability amylases have been made by Genencor from B. licheniformis NCIB8061. Methionine (Met) was identified as the most likely residue to be modified. Met was substituted, one at a time, in positions 8, 15, 197, 256, 304, 366 and 438 leading to specific mutants, particularly important being M197L and M197T with the M197T variant being the most stable expressed variant. Stability was measured in CASCADE® and SUNLIGHT®; (c) particularly preferred amylases herein include amylase variants having additional modification in the immediate parent as described in WO 9510603 A and are available from the assignee, Novo, as DURAMYL®. Other particularly preferred oxidative stability enhanced amylase include those described in WO 9418314 to Genencor International and WO 9402597 to Novo. Any other oxidative stability-enhanced amylase can be used, for example as derived by site-directed mutagenesis from known chimeric, hybrid or simple mutant parent forms of available amylases. Other preferred enzyme modifications are accessible. See WO 9509909 A to Novo.

Other amylase enzymes include those described in WO 95/26397 and in co-pending application by Novo Nordisk PCT/DK96/00056. Specific amylase enzymes for use in the detergent compositions of the present invention include α-amylases characterized by having a specific activity at least 25% higher than the specific activity of Termamyl® at a temperature range of 25° C. to 55° C. and at a pH value in the range of 8 to 10, measured by the Phadebas® α-amylase activity assay. (Such Phadebas® α-amylase activity assay is described at pages 9-10, WO 95/26397). Also included herein are a-amylases which are at least 80% homologous with the amino acid sequences shown in the SEQ ID listings in the references. These enzymes are preferably incorporated into laundry detergent compositions at a level from 0.00018% to 0.060% pure enzyme by weight of the total composition, more preferably from 0.00024% to 0.048% pure enzyme by weight of the total composition.

Cellulases usable herein include both bacterial and fungal types, preferably having a pH optimum between 5 and 9.5. U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,307, Barbesgoard et al, Mar. 6, 1984, discloses suitable fungal cellulases from Humicola insolens or Humicola strain DSM1800 or a cellulase 212-producing fungus belonging to the genus Aeromonas, and cellulase extracted from the hepatopancreas of a marine mollusk, Dolabella Auricula Solander. Suitable cellulases are also disclosed in GB-A-2.075.028; GB-A-2.095.275 and DE-OS-2.247.832. CAREZYME® and CELLUZYME®(Novo) are especially useful. See also WO 9117243 to Novo.

Suitable lipase enzymes for detergent usage include those produced by microorganisms of the Pseudomonas group, such as Pseudomonas stutzeri ATCC 19.154, as disclosed in GB 1,372,034. See also lipases in Japanese Patent Application 53,20487, laid open Feb. 24, 1978. This lipase is available from Amano Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Nagoya, Japan, under the trade name Lipase P "Amano," or "Amano-P." Other suitable commercial lipases include Amano-CES, lipases ex Chromobacter viscosum, e.g. Chromobacter viscosum var. lipolyticum NRRLB 3673 from Toyo Jozo Co., Tagata, Japan; Chromobacter viscosum lipases from U.S. Biochemical Corp., U.S.A. and Disoynth Co., The Netherlands, and lipases ex Pseudomonas gladioli. LIPOLASE® enzyme derived from Humicola lanuginosa and commercially available from Novo, see also EP 341,947, is a preferred lipase for use herein. Lipase and amylase variants stabilized against peroxidase enzymes are described in WO 9414951 A to Novo. See also WO 9205249 and RD 94359044.

In spite of the large number of publications on lipase enzymes, only the lipase derived from Humicola lanuginosa and produced in Aspergillus oryzae as host has so far found widespread application as additive for fabric washing products. It is available from Novo Nordisk under the tradename Lipolase™, as noted above. In order to optimize the stain removal performance of Lipolase, Novo Nordisk have made a number of variants. As described in WO 92/05249, the D96L variant of the native Humicola lanuginosa lipase improves the lard stain removal efficiency by a factor 4.4 over the wild-type lipase (enzymes compared in an amount ranging from 0.075 to 2.5 mg protein per liter). Research Disclosure No. 35944 published on Mar. 10, 1994, by Novo Nordisk discloses that the lipase variant (D96L) may be added in an amount corresponding to 0.001-100-mg (5-500,000 LU/liter) lipase variant per liter of wash liquor. The present invention provides the benefit of improved whiteness maintenance on fabrics using low levels of D96L variant in detergent compositions containing the mid-chain branched surfactant surfactants in the manner disclosed herein, especially when the D96L is used at levels in the range of about 50 LU to about 8500 LU per liter of wash solution.

Cutinase enzymes suitable for use herein are described in WO 8809367 A to Genencor.

Peroxidase enzymes may be used in combination with oxygen sources, e.g., percarbonate, perborate, hydrogen peroxide, etc., for "solution bleaching" or prevention of transfer of dyes or pigments removed from substrates during the wash to other substrates present in the wash solution. Known peroxidases include horseradish peroxidase, ligninase, and haloperoxidases such as chloro- or bromo-peroxidase. Peroxidase-containing detergent compositions are disclosed in WO 89099813 A, Oct. 19, 1989 to Novo and WO 8909813 A to Novo.

A range of enzyme materials and means for their incorporation into synthetic detergent compositions is also disclosed in WO 9307263 A and WO 9307260 A to Genencor International, WO 8908694 A to Novo, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,553,139, Jan. 5, 1971 to McCarty et al. Enzymes are further disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,457, Place et al, Jul. 18, 1978, and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,507,219, Hughes, Mar. 26, 1985. Enzyme materials useful for liquid detergent formulations, and their incorporation into such formulations, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,261,868, Hora et al, Apr. 14, 1981. Enzymes for use in detergents can be stabilised by various techniques. Enzyme stabilisation techniques are disclosed and exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 3,600,319, Aug. 17, 1971, Gedge et al, EP 199,405 and EP 200,586, Oct. 29, 1986, Venegas. Enzyme stabilisation systems are also described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,519,570. A useful Bacillus, sp. AC13 giving proteases, xylanases and cellulases, is described in WO 9401532 A to Novo.

Enzyme Stabilizing System--The enzyme-containing compositions herein may optionally also comprise from about 0.001% to about 10%, preferably from about 0.005% to about 8%, most preferably from about 0.01% to about 6%, by weight of an enzyme stabilizing system. The enzyme stabilizing system can be any stabilizing system which is compatible with the detersive enzyme. Such a system may be inherently provided by other formulation actives, or be added separately, e.g., by the formulator or by a manufacturer of detergent-ready enzymes. Such stabilizing systems can, for example, comprise calcium ion, boric acid, propylene glycol, short chain carboxylic acids, boronic acids, and mixtures thereof, and are designed to address different stabilization problems depending on the type and physical form of the detergent composition.

One stabilizing approach is the use of water-soluble sources of calcium and/or magnesium ions in the finished compositions which provide such ions to the enzymes. Calcium ions are generally more effective than magnesium ions and are preferred herein if only one type of cation is being used. Typical detergent compositions, especially liquids, will comprise from about 1 to about 30, preferably from about 2 to about 20, more preferably from about 8 to about 12 millimoles of calcium ion per liter of finished detergent composition, though variation is possible depending on factors including the multiplicity, type and levels of enzymes incorporated. Preferably water-soluble calcium or magnesium salts are employed, including for example calcium chloride, calcium hydroxide, calcium formate, calcium malate, calcium maleate, calcium hydroxide and calcium acetate; more generally, calcium sulfate or magnesium salts corresponding to the exemplified calcium salts may be used. Further increased levels of Calcium and/or Magnesium may of course be useful, for example for promoting the grease-cutting action of certain types of surfactant.

Another stabilizing approach is by use of borate species. See Severson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,537,706. Borate stabilizers, when used, may be at levels of up to 10% or more of the composition though more typically, levels of up to about 3% by weight of boric acid or other borate compounds such as borax or orthoborate are suitable for liquid detergent use. Substituted boric acids such as phenylboronic acid, butaneboronic acid, p-bromophenylboronic acid or the like can be used in place of boric acid and reduced levels of total boron in detergent compositions may be possible though the use of such substituted boron derivatives.

Stabilizing systems of certain cleaning compositions, for example automatic dishwashing compositions, may further comprise from 0 to about 10%, preferably from about 0.01% to about 6% by weight, of chlorine bleach scavengers, added to prevent chlorine bleach species present in many water supplies from attacking and inactivating the enzymes, especially under alkaline conditions. While chlorine levels in water may be small, typically in the range from about 0.5 ppm to about 1.75 ppm, the available chlorine in the total volume of water that comes in contact with the enzyme, for example during dish- or fabric-washing, can be relatively large; accordingly, enzyme stability to chlorine in-use is sometimes problematic. Since perborate or percarbonate, which have the ability to react with chlorine bleach, may present in certain of the instant compositions in amounts accounted for separately from the stabilizing system, the use of additional stabilizers against chlorine, may, most generally, not be essential, though improved results may be obtainable from their use. Suitable chlorine scavenger anions are widely known and readily available, and, if used, can be salts containing ammonium cations with sulfite, bisulfite, thiosulfite, thiosulfate, iodide, etc. Antioxidants such as carbamate, ascorbate, etc., organic amines such as ethylenediaminetetracetic acid (EDTA) or alkali metal salt thereof, monoethanolamine (MEA), and mixtures thereof can likewise be used. Likewise, special enzyme inhibition systems can be incorporated such that different enzymes have maximum compatibility. Other conventional scavengers such as bisulfate, nitrate, chloride, sources of hydrogen peroxide such as sodium perborate tetrahydrate, sodium perborate monohydrate and sodium percarbonate, as well as phosphate, condensed phosphate, acetate, benzoate, citrate, formate, lactate, malate, tartrate, salicylate, etc., and mixtures thereof can be used if desired. In general, since the chlorine scavenger function can be performed by ingredients separately listed under better recognized fictions, (e.g., hydrogen peroxide sources), there is no absolute requirement to add a separate chlorine scavenger unless a compound performing that functions to the desired extent is absent from an enzyme-containing embodiment of the invention; even then, the scavenger is added only for optimum results. Moreover, the formulator will exercise a chemist's normal skill in avoiding the use of any enzyme scavenger or stabilizer which is majorly incompatible, as formulated, with other reactive ingredients. In relation to the use of ammonium salts, such salts can be simply admixed with the detergent composition but are prone to adsorb water and/or liberate ammonia during storage. Accordingly, such materials, if present, are desirably protected in a particle such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,652,392, Baginski et al.

Builders--Detergent builders selected from aluminosilicates and silicates are preferably included in the compositions herein, for example to assist in controlling mineral, especially Ca and/or Mg, hardness in wash water or to assist in the removal of particulate soils from surfaces.

Suitable silicate builders include water-soluble and hydrous solid types and including those having chain-, layer-, or three-dimensional- structure as well as amorphous-solid or non-structured-liquid types. Preferred are alkali metal silicates, particularly those liquids and solids having a SiO₂ :Na₂ O ratio in the range 1.6:1 to 3.2:1, including, particularly for automatic dishwashing purposes, solid hydrous 2-ratio silicates marketed by PQ Corp. under the tradename BRITESIL®, e.g., BRITESIL H2O; and layered silicates, e.g., those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,839, May 12, 1987, H. P. Rieck. NaSKS-6, sometimes abbreviated "SKS-6", is a crystalline layered aluminium-free δ-Na₂ SiO₅ morphology silicate marketed by Hoechst and is preferred especially in granular laundry compositions. See preparative methods in German DE-A-3,417,649 and DE-A-3,742,043. Other layered silicates, such as those having the general formula NaMSi_(x) O_(2x+1).yH₂ O wherein M is sodium or hydrogen, x is a number from 1.9 to 4, preferably 2, and y is a number from 0 to 20, preferably 0, can also or alternately be used herein. Layered silicates from Hoechst also include NaSKS-5, NaSKS-7 and NaSKS-11, as the α, β and γ layer-silicate forms. Other silicates may also be useful, such as magnesium silicate, which can serve as a crispening agent in granules, as a stabilising agent for bleaches, and as a component of suds control systems.

Also suitable for use herein are synthesized crystalline ion exchange materials or hydrates thereof having chain structure and a composition represented by the following general formula in an anhydride form: xM₂ O.ySiO₂.zM'O wherein M is Na and/or K, M' is Ca and/or Mg; y/x is 0.5 to 2.0 and z/x is 0.005 to 1.0 as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,711, Sakaguchi et al, Jun. 27, 1995.

Aluminosilicate builders are especially useful in granular detergents, but can also be incorporated in liquids, pastes or gels. Suitable for the present purposes are those having empirical formula: [M_(z) (AlO₂)_(z) (SiO₂)_(v) ].xH₂ O wherein z and v are integers of at least 6, the molar ratio of z to v is in the range from 1.0 to 0.5, and x is an integer from 15 to 264. Aluminosilicates can be crystalline or amorphous, naturally-occurring or synthetically derived. An aluminosilicate production method is in U.S. Pat. No. 3,985,669, Krummel, et al, Oct. 12, 1976. Preferred synthetic crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange materials are available as Zeolite A, Zeolite P (B), Zeolite X and, to whatever extent this differs from Zeolite P, the so-called Zeolite MAP. Natural types, including clinoptilolite, may be used. Zeolite A has the formula: Na₁₂ [(AlO₂)₁₂ (SiO₂)₁₂ ].xH₂ O wherein x is from 20 to 30, especially 27. Dehydrated zeolites (x=0-10) may also be used. Preferably, the aluminosilicate has a particle size of 0.1-10 microns in diameter.

Additional Detergent Components

The detergent compositions of the invention may also contain additional detergent components. The precise nature of these additional components, and levels of incorporation thereof will depend on the physical form of the composition, and the precise nature of the washing operation for which it is to be used.

The compositions of the invention preferably contain one or more additional detergent components selected from surfactants, builders, alkalinity system, organic polymeric compounds, suds suppressors, soil suspension and anti-redeposition agents and corrosion inhibitors.

Detersive Surfactants:

The detergent compositions according to the present invention preferably further comprise additional surfactants, herein also referred to as co-surfactants, preferably selected from: anionic surfactants, preferably selected from the group of alkyl alkoxylated sulfates, alkyl sulfates, and/or linear alkyl benzenesulfonate surfactants; cationic surfactants, preferably selected from quaternary ammonium surfactants; nonionic surfactants, preferably alkyl ethoxylates, alkyl polyglucosides, and/or amine or amine oxide surfactants; amphoteric surfactants, preferably selected from betaines and/or polycarboxylates (for example polyglycinates); and zwiterionic surfactants.

A wide range of these co-surfactants can be used in the detergent compositions of the present invention. A typical listing of anionic, nonionic, ampholytic and zwitterionic classes, and species of these co-surfactants, is given in U.S. Pat. No. 3,664,961 issued to Norris on May 23, 1972. Amphoteric surfactants are also described in detail in "Amphoteric Surfactants, Second Edition", E. G. Lomax, Editor (published 1996, by Marcel Dekker, Inc.)

The laundry detergent compositions of the present invention typically comprise from about 0.1% to about 35%, preferably from about 0.5% to about 15%, by weight of co-surfactants. Selected co-surfactants are further identified as follows.

(1) Anionic Co-surfactants:

Nonlimiting examples of anionic co-surfactants useful herein, typically at levels from about 0.1% to about 50%, by weight, include the conventional C₁₁ -C₁₈ alkyl benzene sulfonates ("LAS") and primary, branched-chain and random C₁₀ -C₂₀ alkyl sulfates ("AS"), the C₁₀ -C₁₈ secondary (2,3) alkyl sulfates of the formula CH₃ (CH₂)_(x) (CHOSO₃ ⁻ M⁺) CH₃ and CH₃ (CH₂)_(y) (CHOSO₃ ⁻ M⁺) CH₂ CH₃ where x and (y+1) are integers of at least about 7, preferably at least about 9, and M is a water-solubilizing cation, especially sodium, unsaturated sulfates such as oleyl sulfate, the C₁₀ -C₁₈ alpha-sulfonated fatty acid esters, the C₁₀ -C₁₈ sulfated alkyl polyglycosides, the C₁₀ -C₁₈ alkyl alkoxy sulfates ("AE_(x) S"; especially EO 1-7 ethoxy sulfates), and C₁₀ -C₁₈ alkyl alkoxy carboxylates (especially the EO 1-5 ethoxycarboxylates). The C₁₂ -C₁₈ betaines and sulfobetaines ("sultaines"), C₁₀ -C₁₈ amine oxides, and the like, can also be included in the overall compositions. C₁₀ -C₂₀ conventional soaps may also be used. If high sudsing is desired, the branched-chain C₁₀ -C₁₆ soaps may be used. Other conventional useful anionic co-surfactants are listed in standard texts.

The alkyl alkoxylated sulfate surfactants useful herein are preferably water soluble salts or acids of the formula RO(A)_(m) SO₃ M wherein R is an unsubstituted C₁₀ -C₂₄ alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group having a C₁₀ -C₂₄ alkyl component, preferably a C₁₂ -C₁₈ alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, more preferably C₁₂ -C₁₅ alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, A is an ethoxy or propoxy unit, m is greater than zero, typically between about 0.5 and about 6, more preferably between about 0.5 and about 3, and M is H or a cation which can be, for example, a metal cation (e.g., sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, etc.), ammonium or substituted-ammonium cation. Alkyl ethoxylated sulfates as well as alkyl propoxylated sulfates are contemplated herein. Specific examples of substituted ammonium cations include ethanol-, triethanol-, methyl-, dimethyl, trimethyl-ammonium cations and quaternary ammonium cations such as tetramethyl-ammonium and dimethyl piperidinium cations and those derived from alkylamines such as ethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, mixtures thereof, and the like. Exemplary surfactants are C₁₂ -C₁₅ alkyl polyethoxylate (1.0) sulfate (C₁₂ -C₁₅ E(1.0)M), C₁₂ -C₁₅ alkyl polyethoxylate (2.25) sulfate (C₁₂ -C₁₅ E(2.25)M), C₁₂ -C₁₅ alkyl polyethoxylate (3.0) sulfate (C₁₂ -C₁₅ E(3.0)M), and C₁₂ -C₁₅ alkyl polyethoxylate (4.0) sulfate (C₁₂ -C₁₅ E(4.0)M), wherein M is conveniently selected from sodium and potassium.

The alkyl sulfate surfactants useful herein are preferably water soluble salts or acids of the formula ROSO₃ M wherein R preferably is a C₁₀ -C₂₄ hydrocarbyl, preferably an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl having a C₁₀ -C₁₈ alkyl component, more preferably a C₁₂ -C₁₅ alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, and M is H or a cation, e.g., an alkali metal cation (e.g. sodium, potassium, lithium), or ammonium or substituted ammonium (e.g. methyl-, dimethyl-, and trimethyl ammonium cations and quaternary ammonium cations such as tetramethyl-ammonium and dimethyl piperidinium cations and quaternary ammonium cations derived from alkylamines such as ethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, and mixtures thereof, and the like).

Other suitable anionic surfactants that can be used are alkyl ester sulfonate surfactants including linear esters of C₈ -C₂₀ carboxylic acids (i.e., fatty acids) which are sulfonated with gaseous SO₃ according to "The Journal of the American Oil Chemists Society", 52 (1975), pp. 323-329. Suitable starting materials would include natural fatty substances as derived from tallow, palm oil, etc.

The preferred alkyl ester sulfonate surfactant, especially for laundry applications, comprise alkyl ester sulfonate surfactants of the structural formula:

    R.sup.3 --CH(SO.sub.3 M)--C(O)--OR.sup.4

wherein R³ is a C₈ -C₂₀ hydrocarbyl, preferably an alkyl, or combination thereof, R⁴ is a C₁ -C₆ hydrocarbyl, preferably an alkyl, or combination thereof, and M is a cation which forms a water soluble salt with the alkyl ester sulfonate. Suitable salt-forming cations include metals such as sodium, potassium, and lithium, and substituted or unsubstituted ammonium cations, such as monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, and triethanolamine. Preferably, R³ is C₁₀ -C₁₆ alkyl, and R⁴ is methyl, ethyl or isopropyl. Especially preferred are the methyl ester sulfonates wherein R³ is C₁₀ -C₁₆ alkyl.

Other anionic co-surfactants useful for detersive purposes can also be included in the laundry detergent compositions of the present invention. These can include salts (including, for example, sodium, potassium, ammonium, and substituted ammonium salts such as mono-, di- and triethanolamine salts) of soap, C₈ -C₂₂ primary of secondary alkanesulfonates, C₈ -C₂₄ olefinsulfonates, sulfonated polycarboxylic acids prepared by sulfonation of the pyrolyzed product of alkaline earth metal citrates, e.g., as described in British patent specification No. 1,082,179, C₈ -C₂₄ alkylpolyglycolethersulfates (containing up to 10 moles of ethylene oxide); alkyl glycerol sulfonates, fatty acyl glycerol sulfonates, fatty oleoyl glycerol sulfates, alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether sulfates, paraffin sulfonates, alkyl phosphates, isethionates such as the acyl isethionates, N-acyl taurates, alkyl succinamates and sulfosuccinates, monoesters of sulfosuccinates (especially saturated and unsaturated C₁₂ -C₁₈ monoesters) and diesters of sulfosuccinates (especially saturated and unsaturated C₆ -C₁₂ diesters), sulfates of alkylpolysaccharides such as the sulfates of alkylpolyglucoside (the nonionic nonsulfated compounds being described below), and alkyl polyethoxy carboxylates such as those of the formula RO(CH₂ CH₂ O)_(k) --CH₂ COO--M+ wherein R is a C₈ -C₂₂ alkyl, k is an integer from 0 to 10, and M is a soluble salt-forming cation. Resin acids and hydrogenated resin acids are also suitable, such as rosin, hydrogenated rosin, and resin acids and hydrogenated resin acids present in or derived from tall oil. Further examples are described in "Surface Active Agents and Detergents" (Vol. I and II by Schwartz, Perry and Berch). A variety of such surfactants are also generally disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,678, issued Dec. 30, 1975 to Laughlin, et al. at Column 23, line 58 through Column 29, line 23 (herein incorporated by reference).

A preferred disulfate surfactant has the formula ##STR33## where R is an alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, alkaryl, ether, ester, amine or amide group of chain length C₁ to C₂₈, preferably C₃ to C₂₄, most preferably C₈ to C₂₀, or hydrogen; A and B are independently selected from alkyl, substituted alkyl, and alkenyl groups of chain length C₁ to C₂₈, preferably C₁ to C₅, most preferably C₁ or C₂, or a covalent bond, and A and B in total contain at least 2 atoms; A, B, and R in total contain from 4 to about 31 carbon atoms; X and Y are anionic groups selected from the group consisting of sulfate and sulfonate, provided that at least one of X or Y is a sulfate group; and M is a cationic moiety, preferably a substituted or unsubstituted ammonium ion, or an alkali or alkaline earth metal ion.

The most preferred disulfate surfactant has the formula as above where R is an alkyl group of chain length from C₁₀ to C₁₈, A and B are independently C₁ or C₂, both X and Y are sulfate groups, and M is a potassium, ammonium, or a sodium ion.

The disulfate surfactant is typically present at levels of incorporation of from about 0.1% to about 50%, preferably from about 0.1% to about 35%, most preferably from about 0.5% to about 15% by weight of the detergent composition.

Preferred disulfate surfactant herein include:

(a) 1,3 disulfate compounds, preferably 1,3 C7-C23 (i.e., the total number of carbons in the molecule) straight or branched chain alkyl or alkenyl disulfates, more preferably having the formula: ##STR34## wherein R is a straight or branched chain alkyl or alkenyl group of chain length from about C₄ to about C₁₈ ;

(b) 1,4 disulfate compounds, preferably 1,4 C8-C22 straight or branched chain alkyl or alkenyl disulfates, more preferably having the formula: ##STR35## wherein R is a straight or branched chain alkyl or alkenyl group of chain length from about C₄ to about C₁₈ ; preferred R are selected from octanyl, nonanyl, decyl, dodecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl, octadecyl, and mixtures thereof; and

(c) 1,5 disulfate compounds, preferably 1,5C9-C23 straight or branched chain alkyl or alkenyl disulfates, more preferably having the formula: ##STR36## wherein R is a straight or branched chain alkyl or alkenyl group of chain length from about C₄ to about C₁₈.

Known syntheses of certain disulfated surfactants, in general, use an alkyl or alkenyl succinic anhydride as the principal starting material. This is initially subjected to a reduction step from which a diol is obtained. Subsequently the diol is subjected to a sulfation step to give the disulfated product. As an example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,634,269 describes 2-alkyl or alkenyl-1,4-butanediol disulfates prepared by the reduction of alkenyl succinic anhydrides with lithium aluminium hydride to produce either alkenyl or alkyl diols which are then sulfated. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 3,959,334 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,000,081 describe 2-hydrocarbyl-1,4-butanediol disulfates also prepared using a method involving the reduction of alkenyl succinic anhydrides with lithium aluminium hydride to produce either alkenyl or alkyl diols which are then sulfated.

See also U.S. Pat. No. 3,832,408 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,625 which describe 2-alkyl or alkenyl-1,4-butanediol ethoxylate disulfates prepared by the reduction of alkenyl succinic anhydrides with lithium aluminium hydride to produce either alkenyl or alkyl diols which are then ethoxylated prior to sulfation.

These compounds may also be made by a method involving synthesis of the disulfate surfactant from a substituted cyclic anhydride having one or more carbon chain substituents having in total at least 5 carbon atoms comprising the following steps:

(i) reduction of said substituted cyclic anhydride to form a diol; and

(ii) sulfation of said diol to form a disulfate wherein said reduction step comprises hydrogenation under pressure in the presence of a transition metal-containing hydrogenation catalyst.

When included therein, the laundry detergent compositions of the present invention typically comprise from about 0.1% to about 50%, preferably from about 1% to about 40% by weight of an anionic surfactant.

(2) Nonionic Co-surfactants:

Nonlimiting examples of nonionic co-surfactants useful herein typically at levels from about 0.1% to about 50%, by weight include the alkoxylated alcohols (AE's) and alkyl phenols, polyhydroxy fatty acid amides (PFAA's), alkyl polyglycosides (APG's), C₁₀ -C₁₈ glycerol ethers, and the like.

More specifically, the condensation products of primary and secondary aliphatic alcohols with from about 1 to about 25 moles of ethylene oxide (AE) are suitable for use as the nonionic surfactant in the present invention. The alkyl chain of the aliphatic alcohol can either be straight or branched, primary or secondary, and generally contains from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms. Preferred are the condensation products of alcohols having an alkyl group containing from about 8 to about 20 carbon atoms, more preferably from about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms, with from about 1 to about 10 moles, preferably 2 to 7, most preferably 2 to 5, of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. Especially preferred nonionic surfactants of this type are the C₉ -C₁₅ primary alcohol ethoxylates containing 3-12 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol, particularly the C₁₂ -C₁₅ primary alcohols containing 5-10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.

Examples of commercially available nonionic surfactants of this type include: Tergitol™ 15-S-9 (the condensation product of C₁₁ -C₅ linear alcohol with 9 moles ethylene oxide) and Tergitol™ 24-L-6 NMW (the condensation product of C₁₂ -C₁₄ primary alcohol with 6 moles ethylene oxide with a narrow molecular weight distribution), both marketed by Union Carbide Corporation; Neodol™ 45-9 (the condensation product of C₁₄ -C₁₅ linear alcohol with 9 moles of ethylene oxide), Neodol™ 23-3 (the condensation product of C₁₂ -C₁₃ linear alcohol with 3 moles of ethylene oxide), Neodol™ 45-7 (the condensation product of C₁₄ -C₁₅ linear alcohol with 7 moles of ethylene oxide) and Neodol™ 45-5 (the condensation product of C₁₄ -C₁₅ linear alcohol with 5 moles of ethylene oxide) marketed by Shell Chemical Company; Kyro™ EOB (the condensation product of C₁₃ -C₁₅ alcohol with 9 moles ethylene oxide), marketed by The Procter & Gamble Company; and Genapol LA 030 or 050 (the condensation product of C₁₂ -C₁₄ alcohol with 3 or 5 moles of ethylene oxide) marketed by Hoechst. The preferred range of HLB in these AE nonionic surfactants is from 8-17 and most preferred from 8-14. Condensates with propylene oxide and butylene oxides may also be used.

Another class of preferred nonionic co-surfactants for use herein are the polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants of the formula. ##STR37## wherein R¹ is H, or C₁₋₄ hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxy ethyl, 2-hydroxy propyl or a mixture thereof, R² is C₅₋₃₁ hydrocarbyl, and Z is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyls directly connected to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative thereof. Preferably, R¹ is methyl, R² is a straight C₁₁₋₁₅ alkyl or C₁₅₋₁₇ alkyl or alkenyl chain such as coconut alkyl or mixtures thereof, and Z is derived from a reducing sugar such as glucose, fructose, maltose, lactose, in a reductive amination reaction. Typical examples include the C₁₂ -C₁₈ and C₁₂ -C₁₄ N-methylglucamides. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,194,639 and 5,298,636. N-alkoxy polyhydroxy fatty acid amides can also be used; see U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,393.

Also useful as a nonionic co-surfactant in the present invention are the alkylpolysaccharides such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,647, Llenado, issued Jan. 21, 1986, having a hydrophobic group containing from about 6 to about 30 carbon atoms, preferably from about 10 to about 16 carbon atoms, and a polysaccharide, e.g. a polyglycoside, hydrophilic group containing from about 1.3 to about 10, preferably from about 1.3 to about 3, most preferably from about 1.3 to about 2.7 saccharide units. Any reducing saccharide containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms can be used, e.g., glucose, galactose and galactosyl moieties can be substituted for the glucosyl moieties (optionally the hydrophobic group is attached at the 2-, 3-, 4- , etc. positions thus giving a glucose or galactose as opposed to a glucoside or galactoside). The intersaccharide bonds can be, e.g., between the one position of the additional saccharide units and the 2-, 3-, 4-, and/or 6-positions on the preceding saccharide units.

Preferred alkylpolyglycosides have the formula

    R.sup.2 O(C.sub.n H.sub.2n O).sub.t (glycosyl).sub.x

wherein R² is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkylphenyl, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxyalkylphenyl, and mixtures thereof in which the alkyl groups contain from about 10 to about 18, preferably from about 12 to about 14, carbon atoms; n is 2 or 3, preferably 2; t is from 0 to about 10, preferably 0; and x is from about 1.3 to about 10, preferably from about 1.3 to about 3, most preferably from about 1.3 to about 2.7. The glycosyl is preferably derived from glucose. To prepare these compounds, the alcohol or alkylpolyethoxy alcohol is formed first and then reacted with glucose, or a source of glucose, to form the glucoside (attachment at the 1-position). The additional glycosyl units can then be attached between their 1-position and the preceding glycosyl units 2-, 3-, 4- and/or 6-position, preferably predominately the 2-position. Compounds of this type and their use in detergent are disclosed in EP-B 0 070 077, 0 075 996 and 0 094 118.

Polyethylene, polypropylene, and polybutylene oxide condensates of alkyl phenols are also suitable for use as the nonionic surfactant of the surfactant systems of the present invention, with the polyethylene oxide condensates being preferred. These compounds include the condensation products of alkyl phenols having an alkyl group containing from about 6 to about 14 carbon atoms, preferably from about 8 to about 14 carbon atoms, in either a straight-chain or branched-chain configuration with the alkylene oxide. In a preferred embodiment, the ethylene oxide is present in an amount equal to from about 2 to about 25 moles, more preferably from about 3 to about 15 moles, of ethylene oxide per mole of alkyl phenol. Commercially available nonionic surfactants of this type include Igepal™ CO-630, marketed by the GAF Corporation; and Triton™ X-45, X-114, X-100 and X-102, all marketed by the Rohm & Haas Company. These surfactants are commonly referred to as alkylphenol alkoxylates (e.g., alkyl phenol ethoxylates).

The condensation products of ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic base formed by the condensation of propylene oxide with propylene glycol are also suitable for use as the additional nonionic surfactant in the present invention. The hydrophobic portion of these compounds will preferably have a molecular weight of from about 1500 to about 1800 and will exhibit water insolubility. The addition of polyoxyethylene moieties to this hydrophobic portion tends to increase the water solubility of the molecule as a whole, and the liquid character of the product is retained up to the point where the polyoxyethylene content is about 50% of the total weight of the condensation product, which corresponds to condensation with up to about 40 moles of ethylene oxide. Examples of compounds of this type include certain of the commercially-available Pluronic™ surfactants, marketed by BASF.

Also suitable for use as the nonionic surfactant of the nonionic surfactant system of the present invention, are the condensation products of ethylene oxide with the product resulting from the reaction of propylene oxide and ethylenediamine. The hydrophobic moiety of these products consists of the reaction product of ethylenediamine and excess propylene oxide, and generally has a molecular weight of from about 2500 to about 3000. This hydrophobic moiety is condensed with ethylene oxide to the extent that the condensation product contains from about 40% to about 80% by weight of polyoxyethylene and has a molecular weight of from about 5,000 to about 11,000. Examples of this type of nonionic surfactant include certain of the commercially available Tetronic™ compounds, marketed by BASF.

Also preferred nonionics are amine oxide surfactants. The compositions of the present invention may comprise amine oxide in accordance with the general formula I:

    R.sup.1 (EO).sub.x (PO).sub.y (BO).sub.z N(O)(CH.sub.2 R').sub.2.qH.sub.2 O(I).

In general, it can be seen that the structure (I) provides one long-chain moiety R¹ (EO)_(x) (PO)_(y) (BO)_(z) and two short chain moieties, CH₂ R'. R' is preferably selected from hydrogen, methyl and --CH₂ OH. In general R¹ is a primary or branched hydrocarbyl moiety which can be saturated or unsaturated, preferably, R¹ is a primary alkyl moiety. When x+y+z=0, R¹ is a hydrocarbyl moiety having chainlength of from about 8 to about 18. When x+y+z is different from 0, R¹ may be somewhat longer, having a chainlength in the range C₁₂ -C₂₄. The general formula also encompasses amine oxides wherein x+y+z=0, R₁ =C₈ -C₁₈, R'=H and q=0-2, preferably 2. These amine oxides are illustrated by C₁₂₋₁₄ alkyldimethyl amine oxide, hexadecyl dimethylamine oxide, octadecylamine oxide and their hydrates, especially the dihydrates as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,075,501 and 5,071,594, incorporated herein by reference.

The invention also encompasses amine oxides wherein x+y+z is different from zero, specifically x+y+z is from about 1 to about 10, R¹ is a primary alkyl group containing 8 to about 24 carbons, preferably from about 12 to about 16 carbon atoms; in these embodiments y+z is preferably 0 and x is preferably from about 1 to about 6, more preferably from about 2 to about 4; EO represents ethyleneoxy; PO represents propyleneoxy; and BO represents butyleneoxy. Such amine oxides can be prepared by conventional synthetic methods, e.g., by the reaction of alkylethoxysulfates with dimethylamine followed by oxidation of the ethoxylated amine with hydrogen peroxide.

Highly preferred amine oxides herein are solutions at ambient temperature. Amine oxides suitable for use herein are made commercially by a number of suppliers, including Akzo Chemie, Ethyl Corp., and Procter & Gamble. See McCutcheon's compilation and Kirk-Othmer review article for alternate amine oxide manufacturers.

Whereas in certain of the preferred embodiments R' is H, there is some latitude with respect to having R' slightly larger than H. Specifically, the invention further encompasses embodiments wherein R' is CH₂ OH, such as hexadecylbis(2-hydroxyethyl)amine oxide, tallowbis(2-hydroxyethyl)amine oxide, stearylbis(2-hydroxyethyl)amine oxide and oleylbis(2-hydroxyethyl)amine oxide, dodecyldimethylamine oxide dihydrate.

(3) Cationic Co-surfactants:

Nonlimiting examples of cationic co-surfactants useful herein typically at levels from about 0.1% to about 50%, by weight include the choline ester-type quats and alkoxylated quaternary ammonium (AQA) surfactant compounds, and the like.

Cationic co-surfactants useful as a component of the surfactant system is a cationic choline ester-type quat surfactant which are preferably water dispersible compounds having surfactant properties and comprise at least one ester (i.e. --COO--) linkage and at least one cationically charged group. Suitable cationic ester surfactants, including choline ester surfactants, have for example been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,228,042, 4,239,660 and 4,260,529.

Preferred cationic ester surfactants are those having the formula: ##STR38## wherein R₁ is a C₅ -C₃₁ linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl or alkaryl chain or M⁻.N⁺ (R₆ R₇ R₈)(CH₂)_(s) ; X and Y, independently, are selected from the group consisting of COO, OCO, O, CO, OCOO, CONH, NHCO, OCONH and NHCOO wherein at least one of X or Y is a COO, OCO, OCOO, OCONH or NHCOO group; R₂, R₃, R₄, R₆, R₇ and R₈ are independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxyalkenyl and alkaryl groups having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and R₅ is independently H or a C₁ -C₃ alkyl group; wherein the values of m, n, s and t independently lie in the range of from 0 to 8, the value of b lies in the range from 0 to 20, and the values of a, u and v independently are either 0 or 1 with the proviso that at least one of u or v must be 1; and wherein M is a counter anion.

Preferably R₂, R₃ and R₄ are independently selected from CH₃ and --CH₂ CH₂ OH.

Preferably M is selected from the group consisting of halide, methyl sulfate, sulfate, and nitrate, more preferably methyl sulfate, chloride, bromide or iodide.

Preferred water dispersible cationic ester surfactants are the choline esters having the formula: ##STR39## wherein R₁ is a C₁₁ -C₁₉ linear or branched alkyl chain.

Particularly preferred choline esters of this type include the stearoyl choline ester quaternary methylammonium halides (R¹ =C₁₇ alkyl), palmitoyl choline ester quaternary methylammonium halides (R¹ =C₁₅ alkyl), myristoyl choline ester quaternary methylammonium halides (R¹ =C₁₃ alkyl), lauroyl choline ester quaternary methylammonium halides (R¹ =C₁₁ alkyl), cocoyl choline ester quaternary methylammonium halides (R¹ =C₁₁ -C₁₃ alkyl), tallowyl choline ester quaternary methylammonium halides (R¹ =C₁₅ -C₁₇ alkyl), and any mixtures thereof

The particularly preferred choline esters, given above, may be prepared by the direct esterification of a fatty acid of the desired chain length with dimethylaminoethanol, in the presence of an acid catalyst. The reaction product is then quaternized with a methyl halide, preferably in the presence of a solvent such as ethanol, propylene glycol or preferably a fatty alcohol ethoxylate such as C₁ -C₁₈ fatty alcohol ethoxylate having a degree of ethoxylation of from 3 to 50 ethoxy groups per mole forming the desired cationic material. They may also be prepared by the direct esterification of a long chain fatty acid of the desired chain length together with 2-haloethanol, in the presence of an acid catalyst material. The reaction product is then quaternized with trimethylamine, forming the desired cationic material.

Other suitable cationic ester surfactants have the structural formulas below, wherein d may be from 0 to 20. ##STR40## In a preferred aspect these cationic ester surfactant are hydrolysable under the conditions of a laundry wash method.

Cationic co-surfactants useful herein also include alkoxylated quaternary ammonium (AQA) surfactant compounds (referred to hereinafter as "AQA compounds") having the formula: ##STR41## wherein R¹ is an alkyl or alkenyl moiety containing from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, preferably 10 to about 16 carbon atoms, most preferably from about 10 to about 14 carbon atoms; R² is an alkyl group containing from one to three carbon atoms, preferably methyl; R³ and R⁴ can vary independently and are selected from hydrogen (preferred), methyl and ethyl; X⁻ is an anion such as chloride, bromide, methylsulfate, sulfate, or the like, sufficient to provide electrical neutrality. A and A' can vary independently and are each selected from C₁ -C₄ alkoxy, especially ethoxy (i.e., --CH₂ CH₂ O--), propoxy, butoxy and mixed ethoxy/propoxy; p is from 0 to about 30, preferably 1 to about 4 and q is from 0 to about 30, preferably 1 to about 4, and most preferably to about 4; preferably both p and q are 1. See also: EP 2,084, published May 30, 1979, by The Procter & Gamble Company, which describes cationic co-surfactants of this type which are also useful herein.

AQA compounds wherein the hydrocarbyl substituent R¹ is C₈ -C₁₁, especially C₁₀, enhance the rate of dissolution of laundry granules, especially under cold water conditions, as compared with the higher chain length materials. Accordingly, the C₈ -C₁₁ AQA surfactants may be preferred by some formulators. The levels of the AQA surfactants used to prepare finished laundry detergent compositions can range from about 0.1% to about 5%, typically from about 0.45% to about 2.5%, by weight.

According to the foregoing, the following are nonlimiting, specific illustrations of AQA surfactants used herein. It is to be understood that the degree of alkoxylation noted herein for the AQA surfactants is reported as an average, following common practice for conventional ethoxylated nonionic surfactants. This is because the ethoxylation reactions typically yield mixtures of materials with differing degrees of ethoxylation. Thus, it is not uncommon to report total EO values other than as whole numbers, e.g., "EO2.5", "EO3.5", and the like.

    ______________________________________                                         Designation R.sup.1  R.sup.2 ApR.sup.3                                                                               A'qR.sup.4                               ______________________________________                                         AQA-1       C.sub.12 -C.sub.14                                                                      CH.sub.3                                                                               EO       EO                                       (also referred to as                                                           Coco Methyl EO2)                                                               AQA-2       C.sub.12 -C.sub.16                                                                      CH.sub.3                                                                               (EO).sub.2                                                                              EO                                       AQA-3       C.sub.12 -C.sub.14                                                                      CH.sub.3                                                                               (EO).sub.2                                                                              (EO).sub.2                               (Coco Methyl EO4)                                                              AQA-4       C.sub.12 CH.sub.3                                                                               EO       EO                                       AQA-5       C.sub.12 -C.sub.14                                                                      CH.sub.3                                                                               (EO).sub.2                                                                              (EO).sub.3                               AQA-6       C.sub.12 -C.sub.14                                                                      CH.sub.3                                                                               (EO).sub.2                                                                              (EO).sub.3                               AQA-7       C.sub.8 -C.sub.18                                                                       CH.sub.3                                                                               (EO).sub.3                                                                              (EO).sub.2                               AQA-8       C.sub.12 -C.sub.14                                                                      CH.sub.3                                                                               (EO).sub.4                                                                              (EO).sub.4                               AQA-9       C.sub.12 -C.sub.14                                                                      C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                        (EO).sub.3                                                                              (EO).sub.3                               AQA-10      C.sub.12 -C.sub.18                                                                      C.sub.3 H.sub.7                                                                        (EO).sub.3                                                                              (EO).sub.4                               AQA-11      C.sub.12 -C.sub.18                                                                      CH.sub.3                                                                               (propoxy)                                                                               (EO).sub.3                               AQA-12      C.sub.10 -C.sub.18                                                                      C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                        (iso-propoxy).sub.2                                                                     (EO).sub.3                               AQA-13      C.sub.10 -C.sub.18                                                                      CH.sub.3                                                                               (EO/PO).sub.2                                                                           (EO).sub.3                               AQA-14      C.sub.8 -C.sub.18                                                                       CH.sub.3                                                                               (EO).sub.15 *                                                                           (EO).sub.15 *                            AQA-15      C.sub.10 CH.sub.3                                                                               EO       EO                                       AQA-16      C.sub.8 -C.sub.12                                                                       CH.sub.3                                                                               EO       EO                                       AQA-17      C.sub.9 -C.sub.11                                                                       CH.sub.3                                                  EO 3.5 Avg. -                                                                  AQA-18      C.sub.12 CH.sub.3                                                  EO 3.5 Avg. -                                                                  AQA-19      C.sub.8 -C.sub.14                                                                       CH.sub.3                                                                               (EO).sub.10                                                                             (EO).sub.10                              AQA-20      C.sub.10 C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                        (EO).sub.2                                                                              (EO).sub.3                               AQA-21      C.sub.12 -C.sub.14                                                                      C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                        (EO).sub.5                                                                              (EO).sub.3                               AQA-22      C.sub.12 -C.sub.18                                                                      C.sub.3 H.sub.7                                                                        Bu       (EO).sub.2                               ______________________________________                                          *Ethoxy, optionally endcapped with methyl or ethyl.                      

The preferred bis-ethoxylated cationic surfactants herein are available under the trade name ETHOQUAD from Akzo Nobel Chemicals Company.

Highly preferred bis-AQA compounds for use herein are of the formula ##STR42## wherein R¹ is C₁₀ -C₁₈ hydrocarbyl and mixtures thereof, preferably C₁₀, C₁₂, C₁₄ alkyl and mixtures thereof, and X is any convenient anion to provide charge balance, preferably chloride. With reference to the general AQA structure noted above, since in a preferred compound R¹ is derived from coconut (C₁₂ -C₁₄ alkyl) fraction fatty acids, R² is methyl and ApR³ and A'qR⁴ are each monoethoxy, this preferred type of compound is referred to herein as "CocoMeEO2" or "AQA-1" in the above list.

Other preferred AQA compounds herein include compounds of the formula: ##STR43## wherein R¹ is C₁₀ -C₁₈ hydrocarbyl, preferably C₁₀ -C₁₄ alkyl, independently p is 1 to about 3 and q is 1 to about 3, R² is C₁ -C₃ alkyl, preferably methyl, and X is an anion, especially chloride.

Other compounds of the foregoing type include those wherein the ethoxy (CH₂ CH₂ O) units (EO) are replaced by butoxy (Bu), isopropoxy [CH(CH₃)CH₂ O] and [CH₂ CH(CH₃ O] units (i-Pr) or n-propoxy units (Pr), or mixtures of EO and/or Pr and/or i-Pr units.

The following illustrates various other adjunct ingredients which may be used in the compositions of this invention, but is not intended to be limiting thereof. While the combination of the mid-chain branched surfactant surfactants with such adjunct compositional ingredients can be provided as finished products in the form of liquids, gels, bars, or the like using conventional techniques, the manufacture of the granular laundry detergents herein requires some special processing techniques in order to achieve optimal performance. Accordingly, the manufacture of laundry granules will be described hereinafter separately in the Granules Manufacture section (below), for the convenience of the formulator.

Additional Builders--Detergent builders in place of or in addition to the silicates and aluminosilicates described hereinbefore can optionally be included in the compositions herein, for example to assist in controlling mineral, especially Ca and/or Mg, hardness in wash water or to assist in the removal of particulate soils from surfaces. Builders can operate via a variety of mechanisms including forming soluble or insoluble complexes with hardness ions, by ion exchange, and by offering a surface more favorable to the precipitation of hardness ions than are the surfaces of articles to be cleaned. Builder level can vary widely depending upon end use and physical form of the composition. Built detergents typically comprise at least about 1% builder. Liquid formulations typically comprise about 5% to about 50%, more typically 5% to 35% of builder. Granular formulations typically comprise from about 10% to about 80%, more typically 15% to 50% builder by weight of the detergent composition. Lower or higher levels of builders are not excluded. For example, certain detergent additive or high-surfactant formulations can be unbuilt.

Suitable builders herein can be selected from the group consisting of phosphates and polyphosphates, especially the sodium salts; carbonates, bicarbonates, sesquicarbonates and carbonate minerals other than sodium carbonate or sesquicarbonate; organic mono-, di-, tri-, and tetracarboxylates especially water-soluble nonsurfactant carboxylates in acid, sodium, potassium or alkanolammonium salt form, as well as oligomeric or water-soluble low molecular weight polymer carboxylates including aliphatic and aromatic types; and phytic acid. These may be complemented by borates, e.g., for pH-buffering purposes, or by sulfates, especially sodium sulfate and any other fillers or carriers which may be important to the engineering of stable surfactant and/or builder-containing detergent compositions.

Builder mixtures, sometimes termed "builder systems" can be used and typically comprise two or more conventional builders, optionally complemented by chelants, pH-buffers or fillers, though these latter materials are generally accounted for separately when describing quantities of materials herein. In terms of relative quantities of surfactant and builder in the present detergents, preferred builder systems are typically formulated at a weight ratio of surfactant to builder of from about 60:1 to about 1:80. Certain preferred laundry detergents have said ratio in the range 0.90:1.0 to 4.0:1.0, more preferably from 0.95:1.0 to 3.0:1.0.

P-containing detergent builders often preferred where permitted by legislation include, but are not limited to, the alkali metal, ammonium and alkanolammonium salts of polyphosphates exemplified by the tripolyphosphates, pyrophosphates, glassy polymeric meta-phosphates; and phosphonates.

Suitable carbonate builders include alkaline earth and alkali metal carbonates as disclosed in German Patent Application No. 2,321,001 published on Nov. 15, 1973, although sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium sesquicarbonate, and other carbonate minerals such as trona or any convenient multiple salts of sodium carbonate and calcium carbonate such as those having the composition 2Na₂ CO₃.CaCO₃ when anhydrous, and even calcium carbonates including calcite, aragonite and vaterite, especially forms having high surface areas relative to compact calcite may be useful, for example as seeds or for use in synthetic detergent bars.

Suitable organic detergent builders include polycarboxylate compounds, including water-soluble nonsurfactant dicarboxylates and tricarboxylates. More typically builder polycarboxylates have a plurality of carboxylate groups, preferably at least 3 carboxylates. Carboxylate builders can be formulated in acid, partially neutral, neutral or overbased form. When in salt form, alkali metals, such as sodium, potassium, and lithium, or alkanolammonium salts are preferred. Polycarboxylate builders include the ether polycarboxylates, such as oxydisuccinate, see Berg, U.S. Pat. No. 3,128,287, Apr. 7, 1964, and Lamberti et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,635,830, Jan. 18, 1972; "TMS/TDS" builders of U.S. Pat. No. 4,663,071, Bush et al, May 5, 1987; and other ether carboxylates including cyclic and alicyclic compounds, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,923,679; 3,835,163; 4,158,635; 4,120,874 and 4,102,903.

Other suitable builders are the ether hydroxypolycarboxylates, copolymers of maleic anhydride with ethylene or vinyl methyl ether; 1 3,5-trihydroxy benzene-2,4,6-trisulphonic acid; carboxymethyloxysuccinic acid; the various alkali metal, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts of polyacetic acids such as ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid and nitrilotriacetic acid; as well as mellitic acid, succinic acid, polymaleic acid, benzene 1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid, carboxymethyloxysuccinic acid, and soluble salts thereof.

Citrates, e.g., citric acid and soluble salts thereof are important carboxylate builders e.g., for heavy duty liquid detergents, due to availability from renewable resources and biodegradability. Citrates can also be used in granular compositions, especially in combination with zeolite and/or layered silicates. Oxydisuccinates are also especially useful in such compositions and combinations.

Where permitted, and especially in the formulation of bars used for hand-laundering operations, alkali metal phosphates such as sodium tripolyphosphates, sodium pyrophosphate and sodium orthophosphate can be used. Phosphonate builders such as ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonate and other known phosphonates, e.g., those of U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,159,581; 3,213,030; 3,422,021; 3,400,148 and 3,422,137 can also be used and may have desirable antiscaling properties.

Certain detersive surfactants or their short-chain homologs also have a builder action. For unambiguous formula accounting purposes, when they have surfactant capability, these materials are summed up as detersive surfactants. Preferred types for builder functionality are illustrated by: 3,3-dicarboxy-4-oxa-1,6-hexanedioates and the related compounds disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,984, Bush, Jan. 28, 1986. Succinic acid builders include the C₅ -C₂₀ alkyl and alkenyl succinic acids and salts thereof. Succinate builders also include: laurylsuccinate, myristylsuccinate, palmitylsuccinate, 2-dodecenylsuccinate (preferred), 2-pentadecenylsuccinate, and the like. Lauryl-succinates are described in European Patent Application 86200690.5/0,200,263, published Nov. 5, 1986. Fatty acids, e.g., C₁₂ -C₁₈ monocarboxylic acids, can also be incorporated into the compositions as surfactant/builder materials alone or in combination with the aforementioned builders, especially citrate and/or the succinate builders, to provide additional builder activity. Other suitable polycarboxylates are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,144,226,Crutchfield et al, Mar. 13, 1979 and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,308,067, Diehl, Mar. 7, 1967. See also Diehl, U.S. Pat. No. 3,723,322.

Other types of inorganic builder materials which can be used have the formula (M_(x))_(i) Ca_(y) (CO₃)_(z) wherein x and i are integers from 1 to 15, y is an integer from 1 to 10, z is an integer from 2 to 25, M_(i) are cations, at least one of which is a water-soluble, and the equation Σ_(i=1-15) (x_(i) multiplied by the valence of M_(i))+2y=2z is satisfied such that the formula has a neutral or "balanced" charge. These builders are referred to herein as "Mineral Builders". Waters of hydration or anions other than carbonate may be added provided that the overall charge is balanced or neutral. The charge or valence effects of such anions should be added to the right side of the above equation. Preferably, there is present a water-soluble cation selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, water-soluble metals, hydrogen, boron, ammonium, silicon, and mixtures thereof, more preferably, sodium, potassium, hydrogen, lithium, ammonium and mixtures thereof, sodium and potassium being highly preferred. Nonlimiting examples of noncarbonate anions include those selected from the group consisting of chloride, sulfate, fluoride, oxygen, hydroxide, silicon dioxide, chromate, nitrate, borate and mixtures thereof. Preferred builders of this type in their simplest forms are selected from the group consisting of Na₂ Ca(CO₃)₂, K₂ Ca(CO₃)₂, Na₂ Ca₂ (CO₃)₃, NaKCa(CO₃)₂, NaKCa₂ (CO₃)₃, K₂ Ca₂ (CO₃)₃, and combinations thereof. An especially preferred material for the builder described herein is Na₂ Ca(CO₃)₂ in any of its crystalline modifications. Suitable builders of the above-defined type are further illustrated by, and include, the natural or synthetic forms of any one or combinations of the following minerals: Afghanite, Andersonite, AshcroftineY, Beyerite, Borcarite, Burbankite, Butschliite, Cancrinite, Carbocemaite, Carletonite, Davyne, DonnayiteY, Fairchildite, Ferrisurite, Franzinite, Gaudefroyite, Gaylussite, Girvasite, Gregoryite, Jouravskite, KamphaugiteY, Kettnerite, Khanneshite, LepersonniteGd, Liottite, MckelveyiteY, Microsommite, Mroseite, Natrofairchildite, Nyerereite, RemonditeCe, Sacrofanite, Schrockingerite, Shortite, Surite, Tunisite, Tuscanite, Tyrolite, Vishnevite, and Zenikorite. Preferred mineral forms include Nyererite, Fairchildite and Shortite.

Polymeric Soil Release Agent--Known polymeric soil release agents, hereinafter "SRA" or "SRA's", can optionally be employed in the present detergent compositions. If utilized, SRA's will generally comprise from 0.01% to 10.0%, typically from 0.1% to 5%, preferably from 0.2% to 3.0% by weight, of the composition.

Preferred SRA's typically have hydrophilic segments to hydrophilize the surface of hydrophobic fibers such as polyester and nylon, and hydrophobic segments to deposit upon hydrophobic fibers and remain adhered thereto through completion of washing and rinsing cycles thereby serving as an anchor for the hydrophilic segments. This can enable stains occurring subsequent to treatment with SRA to be more easily cleaned in later washing procedures.

SRA's can include a variety of charged, e.g., anionic or even cationic (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,447), as well as noncharged monomer units and structures may be linear, branched or even star-shaped. They may include capping moieties which are especially effective in controlling molecular weight or altering the physical or surface-active properties. Structures and charge distributions may be tailored for application to different fiber or textile types and for varied detergent or detergent additive products.

Preferred SRA's include oligomeric terephthalate esters, typically prepared by processes involving at least one transesterification/oligomerization, often with a metal catalyst such as a titanium(IV) alkoxide. Such esters may be made using additional monomers capable of being incorporated into the ester structure through one, two, three, four or more positions, without of course forming a densely crosslinked overall structure.

Suitable SRA's include: a sulfonated product of a substantially linear ester oligomer comprised of an oligomeric ester backbone of terephthaloyl and oxyalkyleneoxy repeat units and allyl-derived sulfonated terminal moieties covalently attached to the backbone, for example as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,451, Nov. 6, 1990 to J. J. Scheibel and E. P. Gosselink: such ester oligomers can be prepared by (a) ethoxylating allyl alcohol, (b) reacting the product of (a) with dimethyl terephthalate ("DMT") and 1,2-propylene glycol ("PG") in a two-stage transesterification/oligomerization procedure and (c) reacting the product of (b) with sodium metabisulfite in water; the nonionic end-capped 1,2-propylene/polyoxyethylene terephthalate polyesters of U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,730, Dec. 8, 1987 to Gosselink et al, for example those produced by transesterification/oligomerization of poly(ethyleneglycol) methyl ether, DMT, PG and poly(ethyleneglycol) ("PEG"); the partly- and fully- anionic-end-capped oligomeric esters of U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,580, Jan. 26, 1988 to Gosselink, such as oligomers from ethylene glycol ("EG"), PG, DMT and Na-3,6-dioxa-8-hydroxyoctanesulfonate; the nonionic-capped block polyester oligomeric compounds of U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,857, Oct. 27, 1987 to Gosselink, for example produced from DMT, Me-capped PEG and EG and/or PG, or a combination of DMT, EG and/or PG, Me-capped PEG and Na-dimethyl-5-sulfoisophthalate; and the anionic, especially sulfoaroyl, end-capped terephthalate esters of U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,896, Oct. 31, 1989 to Maldonado, Gosselink et al, the latter being typical of SRA's useful in both laundry and fabric conditioning products, an example being an ester composition made from m-sulfobenzoic acid monosodium salt, PG and DMT optionally but preferably further comprising added PEG, e.g., PEG 3400.

SRA's also include simple copolymeric blocks of ethylene terephthalate or propylene terephthalate with polyethylene oxide or polypropylene oxide terephthalate, see U.S. Pat. No. 3,959,230 to Hays, May 25, 1976 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,893,929 to Basadur, Jul. 8, 1975; cellulosic derivatives such as the hydroxyether cellulosic polymers available as METHOCEL from Dow; and the C₁ -C₄ alkylcelluloses and C₄ hydroxyalkyl celluloses; see U.S. Pat. No. 4,000,093, Dec. 28, 1976 to Nicol, et al. Suitable SRA's characterised by poly(vinyl ester) hydrophobe segments include graft copolymers of poly(vinyl ester), e.g., C₁ -C₆ vinyl esters, preferably poly(vinyl acetate), grafted onto polyalkylene oxide backbones. See European Patent Application 0 219 048, published Apr. 22, 1987 by Kud, et al. Commercially available examples include SOKALAN SRA's such as SOKALAN HP-22, available from BASF, Germany. Other SRA's are polyesters with repeat units containing 10-15% by weight of ethylene terephthalate together with 90-80% by weight of polyoxyethylene terephthalate, derived from a polyoxyethylene glycol of average molecular weight 300-5,000. Commercial examples include ZELCON 5126 from Dupont and MILEASE T from ICI.

Another preferred SRA is an oligomer having empirical formula (CAP)₂ (EG/PG)₅ (T)₅ (SIP)₁ which comprises terephthaloyl (T), sulfoisophthaloyl (SIP), oxyethyleneoxy and oxy-1,2-propylene (EG/PG) units and which is preferably terminated with end-caps (CAP), preferably modified isethionates, as in an oligomer comprising one sulfoisophthaloyl unit, 5 terephthaloyl units, oxyethyleneoxy and oxy-1,2-propyleneoxy units in a defined ratio, preferably about 0.5:1 to about 10:1, and two end-cap units derived from sodium 2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-ethanesulfonate. Said SRA preferably further comprises from 0.5% to 20%, by weight of the oligomer, of a crystallinity-reducing stabiliser, for example an anionic surfactant such as linear sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate or a member selected from xylene-, cumene-, and toluene- sulfonates or mixtures thereof, these stabilizers or modifiers being introduced into the synthesis pot, all as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,807, Gosselink, Pan, Kellett and Hall, issued May 16, 1995. Suitable monomers for the above SRA include Na 2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-ethanesulfonate, DMT, Na- dimethyl 5-sulfoisophthalate, EG and PG.

Yet another group of preferred SRA's are oligomeric esters comprising: (1) a backbone comprising (a) at least one unit selected from the group consisting of dihydroxysulfonates, polyhydroxy sulfonates, a unit which is at least trifunctional whereby ester linkages are formed resulting in a branched oligomer backbone, and combinations thereof; (b) at least one unit which is a terephthaloyl moiety; and (c) at least one unsulfonated unit which is a 1,2-oxyalkyleneoxy moiety; and (2) one or more capping units selected from nonionic capping units, anionic capping units such as alkoxylated, preferably ethoxylated, isethionates, alkoxylated propanesulfonates, alkoxylated propanedisulfonates, alkoxylated phenolsulfonates, sulfoaroyl derivatives and mixtures thereof. Preferred of such esters are those of empirical formula:

    {(CAP)x(EG/PG)y'(DEG)y"(PEG)y'"(T)z(SIP)z'(SEG)q(B)m}

wherein CAP, EG/PG, PEG, T and SIP are as defined hereinabove, (DEG) represents di(oxyethylene)oxy units; (SEG) represents units derived from the sulfoethyl ether of glycerin and related moiety units; (B) represents branching units which are at least trifunctional whereby ester linkages are formed resulting in a branched oligomer backbone; x is from about 1 to about 12; y' is from about 0.5 to about 25; y" is from 0 to about 12; y'" is from 0 to about 10; y'+y"+y'" totals from about 0.5 to about 25; z is from about 1.5 to about 25; z' is from 0 to about 12; z+z' totals from about 1.5 to about 25; q is from about 0.05 to about 12; m is from about 0.01 to about 10; and x, y', y", y'", z, z', q and m represent the average number of moles of the corresponding units per mole of said ester and said ester has a molecular weight ranging from about 500 to about 5,000.

Preferred SEG and CAP monomers for the above esters include Na-2-(2,3-dihydroxypropoxy)ethanesulfonate ("SEG"), Na-2-{2-(2-hydroxyethoxy) ethoxy} ethanesulfonate ("SE3") and its homologs and mixtures thereof and the products of ethoxylating and sulfonating allyl alcohol. Preferred SRA esters in this class include the product of transesterifying and oligomerizing sodium 2-{2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy}ethanesulfonate and/or sodium 2-[2-{2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy}ethoxy]ethanesulfonate, DMT, sodium 2-(2,3-dihydroxypropoxy) ethane sulfonate, EG, and PG using an appropriate Ti(IV) catalyst and can be designated as (CAP)2(T)5(EG/PG)1.4(SEG)2.5(B)0.13 wherein CAP is (Na+--O₃ S[CH₂ CH₂ O]3.5)-- and B is a unit from glycerin and the mole ratio EG/PG is about 1.7:1 as measured by conventional gas chromatography after complete hydrolysis.

Additional classes of SRA's include (1) nonionic terephthalates using diisocyanate coupling agents to link up polymeric ester structures, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,201,824, Violland et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,240,918 Lagasse et al; (II) SRA's with carboxylate terminal groups made by adding trimellitic anhydride to known SRA's to convert terminal hydroxyl groups to trimellitate esters. With a proper selection of catalyst, the trimellitic anhydride forms linkages to the terminals of the polymer through an ester of the isolated carboxylic acid of trimellitic anhydride rather than by opening of the anhydride linkage. Either nonionic or anionic SRA's may be used as staring materials as long as they have hydroxyl terminal groups which may be esterified. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,525,524 Tung et al.; (III) anionic terephthalate-based SRA's of the urethane-linked variety, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,201,824, Violland et al; (IV) poly(vinyl caprolactam) and related co-polymers with monomers such as vinyl pyrrolidone and/or dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, including both nonionic and cationic polymers, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,681, Ruppert et al.; (V) graft copolymers, in addition to the SOKALAN types from BASF made, by grafting acrylic monomers on to sulfonated polyesters; these SRA's assertedly have soil release and anti-redeposition activity similar to known cellulose ethers: see EP 279,134 A, 1988, to Rhone-Poulenc Chemie; (VI) grafts of vinyl monomers such as acrylic acid and vinyl acetate on to proteins such as caseins, see EP 457,205 A to BASF (1991); (VII) polyester-polyamide SRA's prepared by condensing adipic acid, caprolactam, and polyethylene glycol, especially for treating polyamide fabrics, see Bevan et al, DE 2,335,044 to Unilever N. V., 1974. Other useful SRA's are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,240,918, 4,787,989, 4,525,524 and 4,877,896.

Clay Soil Removal/Anti-redeposition Agents--The compositions of the present invention can also optionally contain water-soluble ethoxylated amines having clay soil removal and antiredeposition properties. Granular detergent compositions which contain these compounds typically contain from about 0.01% to about 10.0% by weight of the water-soluble ethoxylates amines; liquid detergent compositions typically contain about 0.01% to about 5%.

The most preferred soil release and anti-redeposition agent is ethoxylated tetraethylenepentamine. Exemplary ethoxylated amines are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,898, VanderMeer, issued Jul. 1, 1986. Another group of preferred clay soil removal-antiredeposition agents are the cationic compounds disclosed in European Patent Application 111,965, Oh and Gosselink, published Jun. 27, 1984. Other clay soil removal/antiredeposition agents which can be used include the ethoxylated amine polymers disclosed in European Patent Application 111,984, Gosselink, published Jun. 27, 1984; the zwitterionic polymers disclosed in European Patent Application 112,592, Gosselink, published Jul. 4, 1984; and the amine oxides disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,548,744, Connor, issued Oct. 22, 1985. Other clay soil removal and/or anti redeposition agents known in the art can also be utilized in the compositions herein. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,891,160, VanderMeer, issued Jan. 2, 1990 and WO 95/32272, published Nov. 30, 1995. Another type of preferred antiredeposition agent includes the carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) materials. These materials are well known in the art.

Polymeric Dispersing Agents--Polymeric dispersing agents can advantageously be utilized at levels from about 0.1% to about 7%, by weight, in the compositions herein, especially in the presence of zeolite and/or layered silicate builders. Suitable polymeric dispersing agents include polymeric polycarboxylates and polyethylene glycols, although others known in the art can also be used. It is believed, though it is not intended to be limited by theory, that polymeric dispersing agents enhance overall detergent builder performance, when used in combination with other builders (including lower molecular weight polycarboxylates) by crystal growth inhibition, particulate soil release peptization, and anti-redeposition.

Polymeric polycarboxylate materials can be prepared by polymerizing or copolymerizing suitable unsaturated monomers, preferably in their acid form. Unsaturated monomeric acids that can be polymerized to form suitable polymeric polycarboxylates include acrylic acid, maleic acid (or maleic anhydride), fumaric acid, itaconic acid, aconitic acid, mesaconic acid, citraconic acid and methylenemalonic acid. The presence in the polymeric polycarboxylates herein or monomeric segments, containing no carboxylate radicals such as vinylmethyl ether, styrene, ethylene, etc. is suitable provided that such segments do not constitute more than about 40% by weight.

Particularly suitable polymeric polycarboxylates can be derived from acrylic acid. Such acrylic acid-based polymers which are useful herein are the water-soluble salts of polymerized acrylic acid. The average molecular weight of such polymers in the acid form preferably ranges from about 2,000 to 10,000, more preferably from about 4,000 to 7,000 and most preferably from about 4,000 to 5,000. Water-soluble salts of such acrylic acid polymers can include, for example, the alkali metal, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts. Soluble polymers of this type are known materials. Use of polyacrylates of this type in detergent compositions has been disclosed, for example, in Diehl, U.S. Pat. No. 3,308,067, issued Mar. 7, 1967.

Acrylic/maleic-based copolymers may also be used as a preferred component of the dispersing/anti-redeposition agent. Such materials include the water-soluble salts of copolymers of acrylic acid and maleic acid. The average molecular weight of such copolymers in the acid form preferably ranges from about 2,000 to 100,000, more preferably from about 5,000 to 75,000, most preferably from about 7,000 to 65,000. The ratio of acrylate to maleate segments in such copolymers will generally range from about 30:1 to about 1:1, more preferably from about 10:1 to 2:1. Water-soluble salts of such acrylic acid/maleic acid copolymers can include, for example, the alkali metal, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts. Soluble acrylate/maleate copolymers of this type are known materials which are described in European Patent Application No. 66915, published Dec. 15, 1982, as well as in EP 193,360, published Sep. 3, 1986, which also describes such polymers comprising hydroxypropylacrylate. Still other useful dispersing agents include the maleic/acrylic/vinyl alcohol terpolymers. Such materials are also disclosed in EP 193,360, including, for example, the 45/45/10 terpolymer of acrylic/maleic/vinyl alcohol.

Another polymeric material which can be included is polyethylene glycol (PEG). PEG can exhibit dispersing agent performance as well as act as a clay soil removal-antiredeposition agent. Typical molecular weight ranges for these purposes range from about 500 to about 100,000, preferably from about 1,000 to about 50,000, more preferably from about 1,500 to about 10,000.

Polyaspartate and polyglutamate dispersing agents may also be used, especially in conjunction with zeolite builders. Dispersing agents such as polyaspartate preferably have a molecular weight (avg.) of about 10,000.

Brightener--Any optical brighteners or other brightening or whitening agents known in the art can be incorporated at levels typically from about 0.01% to about 1.2%, by weight, into the detergent compositions herein. Commercial optical brighteners which may be useful in the present invention can be classified into subgroups, which include, but are not necessarily limited to, derivatives of stilbene, pyrazoline, coumarin, carboxylic acid, methinecyanines, dibenzothiophene-5,5-dioxide, azoles, 5- and 6-membered-ring heterocycles, and other miscellaneous agents. Examples of such brighteners are disclosed in "The Production and Application of Fluorescent Brightening Agents", M. Zahradnik, Published by John Wiley & Sons, New York (1982).

Specific examples of optical brighteners which are useful in the present compositions are those identified in U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,856, issued to Wixon on Dec. 13, 1988. These brighteners include the PHORWHITE series of brighteners from Verona. Other brighteners disclosed in this reference include: Tinopal UNPA, Tinopal CBS and Tinopal 5BM; available from Ciba-Geigy; Artic White CC and Artic White CWD, the 2-(4-styryl-phenyl)-2H-naptho[1,2-d]triazoles; 4,4'-bis-(1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)-stilbenes; 4,4'-bis(styryl)bisphenyls; and the amino-coumarins. Specific examples of these brighteners include 4-methyl-7-diethylamino coumarin; 1,2-bis(benzimidazol-2-yl)ethylene; 1,3-diphenyl-pyrazolines; 2,5-bis(benzoxazol-2-yl)thiophene; 2-styryl-naptho[1,2-d]oxazole; and 2-(stilben-4-yl)-2H-naphtho[1,2-d]triazole. See also U.S. Pat. No. 3,646,015, issued Feb. 29, 1972 to Hamilton.

Dye Transfer Inhibiting Agents--The compositions of the present invention may also include one or more materials effective for inhibiting the transfer of dyes from one fabric to another during the cleaning process. Generally, such dye transfer inhibiting agents include polyvinyl pyrrolidone polymers, polyamine N-oxide polymers, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole, manganese phthalocyanine, peroxidases, and mixtures thereof. If used, these agents typically comprise from about 0.01% to about 10% by weight of the composition, preferably from about 0.01% to about 5%, and more preferably from about 0.05% to about 2%.

More specifically, the polyamine N-oxide polymers preferred for use herein contain units having the following structural formula: R--A_(x) --P; wherein P is a polymerizable unit to which an N--O group can be attached or the N--O group can form part of the polymerizable unit or the N--O group can be attached to both units; A is one of the following structures: --NC(O)--, --C(O)O--, --S--, --O--, --N═; x is 0 or 1; and R is aliphatic, ethoxylated aliphatics, aromatics, heterocyclic or alicyclic groups or any combination thereof to which the nitrogen of the N--O group can be attached or the N--O group is part of these groups. Preferred polyamine N-oxides are those wherein R is a heterocyclic group such as pyridine, pyrrole, imidazole, pyrrolidine, piperidine and derivatives thereof.

The N--O group can be represented by the following general structures: ##STR44## wherein R₁, R₂, R₃ are aliphatic, aromatic, heterocyclic or alicyclic groups or combinations thereof; x, y and z are 0 or 1; and the nitrogen of the N--O group can be attached or form part of any of the aforementioned groups. The amine oxide unit of the polyamine N-oxides has a pKa<10, preferably pKa<7, more preferred pKa<6.

Any polymer backbone can be used as long as the amine oxide polymer formed is water-soluble and has dye transfer inhibiting properties. Examples of suitable polymeric backbones are polyvinyls, polyalkylenes, polyesters, polyethers, polyamide, polyimides, polyacrylates and mixtures thereof. These polymers include random or block copolymers where one monomer type is an amine N-oxide and the other monomer type is an N-oxide. The amine N-oxide polymers typically have a ratio of amine to the amine N-oxide of 10:1 to 1:1,000,000. However, the number of amine oxide groups present in the polyamine oxide polymer can be varied by appropriate copolymerization or by an appropriate degree of N-oxidation. The polyamine oxides can be obtained in almost any degree of polymerization. Typically, the average molecular weight is within the range of 500 to 1,000,000; more preferred 1,000 to 500,000; most preferred 5,000 to 100,000. This preferred class of materials can be referred to as "PVNO".

The most preferred polyamine N-oxide useful in the detergent compositions herein is poly(4-vinylpyridine-N-oxide) which as an average molecular weight of about 50,000 and an amine to amine N-oxide ratio of about 1:4.

Copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole polymers (referred to as a class as "PVPVI") are also preferred for use herein. Preferably the PVPVI has an average molecular weight range from 5,000 to 1,000,000, more preferably from 5,000 to 200,000, and most preferably from 10,000 to 20,000. (The average molecular weight range is determined by light scattering as described in Barth, et al., Chemical Analysis, Vol 113. "Modern Methods of Polymer Characterization", the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.) The PVPVI copolymers typically have a molar ratio of N-vinylimidazole to N-vinylpyrrolidone from 1:1 to 0.2:1, more preferably from 0.8:1 to 0.3:1, most preferably from 0.6:1 to 0.4:1. These copolymers can be either linear or branched.

The present invention compositions also may employ a polyvinylpyrrolidone ("PVP") having an average molecular weight of from about 5,000 to about 400,000, preferably from about 5,000 to about 200,000, and more preferably from about 5,000 to about 50,000. PVP's are known to persons skilled in the detergent field; see, for example, EP-A-262,897 and EP-A-256,696, incorporated herein by reference. Compositions containing PVP can also contain polyethylene glycol ("PEG") having an average molecular weight from about 500 to about 100,000, preferably from about 1,000 to about 10,000. Preferably, the ratio of PEG to PVP on a ppm basis delivered in wash solutions is from about 2:1 to about 50:1, and more preferably from about 3:1 to about 10:1.

The detergent compositions herein may also optionally contain from about 0.005% to 5% by weight of certain types of hydrophilic optical brighteners which also provide a dye transfer inhibition action. If used, the compositions herein will preferably comprise from about 0.01% to 1% by weight of such optical brighteners.

The hydrophilic optical brighteners useful in the present invention are those having the structural formula: ##STR45## wherein R₁ is selected from anilino, N-2-bis-hydroxyethyl and NH-2-hydroxyethyl; R₂ is selected from N-2-bis-hydroxyethyl, N-2-hydroxyethyl-N-methylamino, morphilino, chloro and amino; and M is a salt-forming cation such as sodium or potassium.

When in the above formula, R₁ is anilino, R₂ is N-2-bis-hydroxyethyl and M is a cation such as sodium, the brightener is 4,4',-bis[(4-anilino-6-(N-2-bis-hydroxyethyl)-s-triazine-2-yl)amino]-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acid and disodium salt. This particular brightener species is commercially marketed under the tradename Tinopal-UNPA-GX by Ciba-Geigy Corporation. Tinopal-UNPA-GX is the preferred hydrophilic optical brightener useful in the detergent compositions herein.

When in the above formula, R₁ is anilino, R₂ is N-2-hydroxyethyl-N-2-methylamino and M is a cation such as sodium, the brightener is 4,4'-bis[(4-anilino-6-(N-2-hydroxyethyl-N-methylamino)-s-triazine-2-yl)amino]2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acid disodium salt. This particular brightener species is commercially marketed under the tradename Tinopal 5BM-GX by Ciba-Geigy Corporation.

When in the above formula, R₁ is anilino, R₂ is morphilino and M is a cation such as sodium, the brightener is 4,4'-bis[(4-anilino-6-morphilino-s-triazine-2-yl)amino]2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acid, sodium salt. This particular brightener species is commercially marketed under the tradename Tinopal AMS-GX by Ciba Geigy Corporation.

The specific optical brightener species selected for use in the present invention provide especially effective dye transfer inhibition performance benefits when used in combination with the selected polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents hereinbefore described. The combination of such selected polymeric materials (e.g., PVNO and/or PVPVI) with such selected optical brighteners (e.g., Tinopal UNPA-GX, Tinopal 5BM-GX and/or Tinopal AMS-GX) provides significantly better dye transfer inhibition in aqueous wash solutions than does either of these two detergent composition components when used alone. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that such brighteners work this way because they have high affinity for fabrics in the wash solution and therefore deposit relatively quick on these fabrics. The extent to which brighteners deposit on fabrics in the wash solution can be defined by a parameter called the "exhaustion coefficient". The exhaustion coefficient is in general as the ratio of a) the brightener material deposited on fabric to b) the initial brightener concentration in the wash liquor. Brighteners with relatively high exhaustion coefficients are the most suitable for inhibiting dye transfer in the context of the present invention.

Of course, it will be appreciated that other, conventional optical brightener types of compounds can optionally be used in the present compositions to provide conventional fabric "brightness" benefits, rather than a true dye transfer inhibiting effect. Such usage is conventional and well-known to detergent formulations.

Chelating Agents--The detergent compositions herein may also optionally contain one or more iron and/or manganese chelating agents. Such chelating agents can be selected from the group consisting of amino carboxylates, amino phosphonates, polyfunctionally-substituted aromatic chelating agents and mixtures therein, all as hereinafter defined. Without intending to be bound by theory, it is believed that the benefit of these materials is due in part to their exceptional ability to remove iron and manganese ions from washing solutions by formation of soluble chelates.

Amino carboxylates useful as optional chelating agents include ethylenediaminetetracetates, N-hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetates, nitrilotriacetates, ethylenediamine tetraproprionates, triethylenetetraaminehexacetates, diethylenetriaminepentaacetates, and ethanoldiglycines, alkali metal, ammonium, and substituted ammonium salts therein and mixtures therein.

Amino phosphonates are also suitable for use as chelating agents in the compositions of the invention when at lease low levels of total phosphorus are permitted in detergent compositions, and include ethylenediaminetetrakis (methylenephosphonates) as DEQUEST. Preferred, these amino phosphonates to not contain alkyl or alkenyl groups with more than about 6 carbon atoms.

Polyfunctionally-substituted aromatic chelating agents are also useful in the compositions herein. See U.S. Pat. No. 3,812,044, issued May 21, 1974, to Connor et al. Preferred compounds of this type in acid form are dihydroxydisulfobenzenes such as 1,2-dihydroxy-3,5-disulfobenzene.

A preferred biodegradable chelator for use herein is ethylenediamine disuccinate ("EDDS"), especially the [S,S] isomer as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,233, Nov. 3, 1987, to Hartman and Perkins.

The compositions herein may also contain water-soluble methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA) salts (or acid form) as a chelant or co-builder useful with, for example, insoluble builders such as zeolites, layered silicates and the like.

If utilized, these chelating agents will generally comprise from about 0.1% to about 15% by weight of the detergent compositions herein. More preferably, if utilized, the chelating agents will comprise from about 0.1% to about 3.0% by weight of such compositions.

Suds Suppressors--Compounds for reducing or suppressing the formation of suds can be incorporated into the compositions of the present invention. Suds suppression can be of particular importance in the so-called "high concentration cleaning process" as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,489,455 and 4,489,574 and in front-loading European-style washing machines.

A wide variety of materials may be used as suds suppressors, and suds suppressors are well known to those skilled in the art. See, for example, Kirk Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Third Edition, Volume 7, pages 430-447 (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1979). One category of suds suppressor of particular interest encompasses monocarboxylic fatty acid and soluble salts therein. See U.S. Pat. No. 2,954,347, issued Sep. 27, 1960 to Wayne St. John. The monocarboxylic fatty acids and salts thereof used as suds suppressor typically have hydrocarbyl chains of 10 to about 24 carbon atoms, preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms. Suitable salts include the alkali metal salts such as sodium, potassium, and lithium salts, and ammonium and alkanolammonium salts.

The detergent compositions herein may also contain non-surfactant suds suppressors. These include, for example: high molecular weight hydrocarbons such as paraffin, fatty acid esters (e.g., fatty acid triglycerides), fatty acid esters of monovalent alcohols, aliphatic C₁₈ -C₄₀ ketones (e.g., stearone), etc. Other suds inhibitors include N-alkylated amino triazines such as tri- to hexa-alkylmelamines or di- to tetra-alkyldiamine chlortriazines formed as products of cyanuric chloride with two or three moles of a primary or secondary amine containing 1 to 24 carbon atoms, propylene oxide, and monostearyl phosphates such as monostearyl alcohol phosphate ester and monostearyl di-alkali metal (e.g., K, Na, and Li) phosphates and phosphate esters. The hydrocarbons such as paraffin and haloparaffin can be utilized in liquid form. The liquid hydrocarbons will be liquid at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, and will have a pour point in the range of about -40° C. and about 50° C., and a minimum boiling point not less than about 110° C. (atmospheric pressure). It is also known to utilize waxy hydrocarbons, preferably having a melting point below about 100° C. The hydrocarbons constitute a preferred category of suds suppressor for detergent compositions. Hydrocarbon suds suppressors are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,779, issued May 5, 1981 to Gandolfo et al. The hydrocarbons, thus, include aliphatic, alicyclic, aromatic, and heterocyclic saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbons having from about 12 to about 70 carbon atoms. The term "paraffin," as used in this suds suppressor discussion, is intended to include mixtures of true paraffins and cyclic hydrocarbons.

Another preferred category of non-surfactant suds suppressors comprises silicone suds suppressors. This category includes the use of polyorganosiloxane oils, such as polydimethylsiloxane, dispersions or emulsions of polyorganosiloxane oils or resins, and combinations of polyorganosiloxane with silica particles wherein the polyorganosiloxane is chemisorbed or fused onto the silica. Silicone suds suppressors are well known in the art and are, for example, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,779, issued May 5, 1981 to Gandolfo et al and European Patent Application No. 89307851.9, published Feb. 7, 1990, by Starch, M. S.

Other silicone suds suppressors are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,455,839 which relates to compositions and processes for defoaming aqueous solutions by incorporating therein small amounts of polydimethylsiloxane fluids.

Mixtures of silicone and silanated silica are described, for instance, in German Patent Application DOS 2,124,526. Silicone defoamers and suds controlling agents in granular detergent compositions are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,933,672, Bartolotta et al, and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,652,392, Baginski et al, issued Mar. 24, 1987.

An exemplary silicone based suds suppressor for use herein is a suds suppressing amount of a suds controlling agent consisting essentially of:

(i) polydimethylsiloxane fluid having a viscosity of from about 20 cs. to about 1,500 cs. at 25° C.;

(ii) from about 5 to about 50 parts per 100 parts by weight of (i) of siloxane resin composed of (CH₃)₃ SiO_(1/2) units of SiO₂ units in a ratio of from (CH₃)₃ SiO_(1/2) units and to SiO₂ units of from about 0.6:1 to about 1.2:1; and

(iii) from about 1 to about 20 parts per 100 parts by weight of (i) of a solid silica gel.

In the preferred silicone suds suppressor used herein, the solvent for a continuous phase is made up of certain polyethylene glycols or polyethylene-polypropylene glycol copolymers or mixtures thereof (preferred), or polypropylene glycol. The primary silicone suds suppressor is branched/crosslinked and preferably not linear.

To illustrate this point further, typical liquid laundry detergent compositions with controlled suds will optionally comprise from about 0.001 to about 1, preferably from about 0.01 to about 0.7, most preferably from about 0.05 to about 0.5, weight % of said silicone uds suppressor, which comprises (1) a nonaqueous emulsion of a primary antifoam agent which is a mixture of (a) a polyorganosiloxane, (b) a resinous siloxane or a silicone resin-producing silicone compound, (c) a finely divided filler material, and (d) a catalyst to promote the reaction of mixture components (a), (b) and (c), to form silanolates; (2) at least one nonionic silicone surfactant; and (3) polyethylene glycol or a copolymer of polyethylene-polypropylene glycol having a solubility in water at room temperature of more than about 2 weight %; and without polypropylene glycol. Similar amounts can be used in granular compositions, gels, etc. See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,978,471, Starch, issued Dec. 18, 1990, and 4,983,316, Starch, issued Jan. 8, 1991, 5,288,431, Huber et al., issued Feb. 22, 1994, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,639,489 and 4,749,740, Aizawa et al at column 1, line 46 through column 4, line 35.

The silicone suds suppressor herein preferably comprises polyethylene glycol and a copolymer of polyethylene glycol/polypropylene glycol, all having an average molecular weight of less than about 1,000, preferably between about 100 and 800. The polyethylene glycol and polyethylene/polypropylene copolymers herein have a solubility in water at room temperature of more than about 2 weight %, preferably more than about 5 weight %.

The preferred solvent herein is polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of less than about 1,000, more preferably between about 100 and 800, most preferably between 200 and 400, and a copolymer of polyethylene glycol/polypropylene glycol, preferably PPG 200/PEG 300. Preferred is a weight ratio of between about 1:1 and 1:10, most preferably between 1:3 and 1:6, of polyethylene glycol:copolymer of polyethylene-polypropylene glycol.

The preferred silicone suds suppressors used herein do not contain polypropylene glycol, particularly of 4,000 molecular weight. They also preferably do not contain block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, like PLURONIC L101.

Other suds suppressors useful herein comprise the secondary alcohols (e.g., 2-alkyl alkanols) and mixtures of such alcohols with silicone oils, such as the silicones disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,798,679, 4,075,118 and EP 150,872. The secondary alcohols include the C₆ -C₁₆ alkyl alcohols having a C₁ -C₁₆ chain. A preferred alcohol is 2-butyl octanol, which is available from Condea under the trademark ISOFOL 12. Mixtures of secondary alcohols are available under the trademark ISALCHEM 123 from Enichem. Mixed suds suppressors typically comprise mixtures of alcohol+silicone at a weight ratio of 1:5 to 5:1.

For any detergent compositions to be used in automatic laundry washing machines, suds should not form to the extent that they overflow the washing machine. Suds suppressors, when utilized, are preferably present in a "suds suppressing amount. By "suds suppressing amount" is meant that the formulator of the composition can select an amount of this suds controlling agent that will sufficiently control the suds to result in a low-sudsing laundry detergent for use in automatic laundry washing machines.

The compositions herein will generally comprise from 0% to about 10% of suds suppressor. When utilized as suds suppressors, monocarboxylic fatty acids, and salts therein, will be present typically in amounts up to about 5%, by weight, of the detergent composition. Preferably, from about 0.5% to about 3% of fatty monocarboxylate suds suppressor is utilized. Silicone suds suppressors are typically utilized in amounts up to about 2.0%, by weight, of the detergent composition, although higher amounts may be used. This upper limit is practical in nature, due primarily to concern with keeping costs minimized and effectiveness of lower amounts for effectively controlling sudsing. Preferably from about 0.01% to about 1% of silicone suds suppressor is used, more preferably from about 0.25% to about 0.5%. As used herein, these weight percentage values include any silica that may be utilized in combination with polyorganosiloxane, as well as any adjunct materials that may be utilized. Monostearyl phosphate suds suppressors are generally utilized in amounts ranging from about 0.1% to about 2%, by weight, of the composition. Hydrocarbon suds suppressors are typically utilized in amounts ranging from about 0.01% to about 5.0%, although higher levels can be used. The alcohol suds suppressors are typically used at 0.2%-3% by weight of the finished compositions.

Alkoxylated Polycarboxylates--Alkoxylated polycarboxylates such as those prepared from polyacrylates are useful herein to provide additional grease removal performance. Such materials are described in WO 91/08281 and PCT 90/01815 at p. 4 et seq., incorporated herein by reference. Chemically, these materials comprise polyacrylates having one ethoxy side-chain per every 7-8 acrylate units. The side-chains are of the formula --(CH₂ CH₂ O)_(m) (CH₂)_(n) CH₃ wherein m is 2-3 and n is 6-12. The side-chains are ester-linked to the polyacrylate "backbone" to provide a "comb" polymer type structure. The molecular weight can vary, but is typically in the range of about 2000 to about 50,000. Such alkoxylated polycarboxylates can comprise from about 0.05% to about 10%, by weight, of the compositions herein.

Fabric Softeners--Various through-the-wash fabric softeners, especially the impalpable smectite clays of U.S. Pat. No. 4,062,647, Storm and Nirschl, issued Dec. 13, 1977, as well as other softener clays known in the art, can optionally be used typically at levels of from about 0.5% to about 10% by weight in the present compositions to provide fabric softener benefits concurrently with fabric cleaning. Clay softeners can be used in combination with amine and cationic softeners as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,416, Crisp et al, Mar. 1, 1983 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,291,071, Harris et al, issued Sep. 22, 1981.

Perfumes--Perfumes and perfumery ingredients useful in the present compositions and processes comprise a wide variety of natural and synthetic chemical ingredients, including, but not limited to, aldehydes, ketones, esters, and the like. Also included are various natural extracts and essences which can comprise complex mixtures of ingredients, such as orange oil, lemon oil, rose extract, lavender, musk, patchouli, balsamic essence, sandalwood oil, pine oil, cedar, and the like. Finished perfumes can comprise extremely complex mixtures of such ingredients. Finished perfumes typically comprise from about 0.01% to about 2%, by weight, of the detergent compositions herein, and individual perfumery ingredients can comprise from about 0.0001% to about 90% of a finished perfume composition.

Several perfume formulations are set forth in Example XXI, hereinafter. Non-limiting examples of perfume ingredients useful herein include: 7-acetyl-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydro-1,1,6,7-tetramethyl naphthalene; ionone methyl; ionone gamma methyl; methyl cedrylone; methyl dihydrojasmonate; methyl 1,6,10-trimethyl-2,5,9-cyclododecatrien-1-yl ketone; 7-acetyl-1,1,3,4,4,6-hexamethyl tetralin; 4-acetyl-6-tert-butyl-1,1-dimethyl indane; para-hydroxy-phenyl-butanone; benzophenone; methyl beta-naphthyl ketone; 6-acetyl-1,1,2,3,3,5-hexamethyl indane; 5-acetyl-3-isopropyl-1,1,2,6-tetramethyl indane; 1-dodecanal, 4-(4-hydroxy-4-methylpentyl)-3-cyclohexene-1-carboxaldehyde; 7-hydroxy-3,7-dimethyl ocatanal; 10-undecen-1-al; iso-hexenyl cyclohexyl carboxaldehyde; formyl tricyclodecane; condensation products of hydroxycitronellal and methyl anthranilate, condensation products of hydroxycitronellal and indol, condensation products of phenyl acetaldehyde and indol; 2-methyl-3-(para-tert-butylphenyl)-propionaldehyde; ethyl vanillin; heliotropin; hexyl cinnamic aldehyde; amyl cinnamic aldehyde; 2-methyl-2-(para-iso-propylphenyl)-propionaldehyde; coumarin; decalactone gamma; cyclopentadecanolide; 16-hydroxy-9-hexadecenoic acid lactone; 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta-gamma-2-benzopyrane; beta-naphthol methyl ether; ambroxane; dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetra-methylnaphtho[2,1b]furan; cedrol, 5-(2,2,3-trimethylcyclopent-3-enyl)-3-methylpentan-2-ol; 2-ethyl-4-(2,2,3-trimethyl-3-cyclopenten-1-yl)-2-buten-1-ol; caryophyllene alcohol; tricyclodecenyl propionate; tricyclodecenyl acetate; benzyl salicylate; cedryl acetate; and para-(tert-butyl) cyclohexyl acetate.

Particularly preferred perfume materials are those that provide the largest odor improvements in finished product compositions containing cellulases. These perfumes include but are not limited to: hexyl cinnamic aldehyde; 2-methyl-3-(para-tert-butylphenyl)-propionaldehyde; 7-acetyl-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydro-1,1,6,7-tetramethyl naphthalene; benzyl salicylate; 7-acetyl-1,1,3,4,4,6-hexamethyl tetralin; para-tert-butyl cyclohexyl acetate; methyl dihydro jasmonate; beta-napthol methyl ether; methyl beta-naphthyl ketone; 2-methyl-2-(para-iso-propylphenyl)-propionaldehyde; 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethyl-cyclopenta-gamma-2-benzopyrane; dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1b]furan; anisaldehyde; coumarin; cedrol; vanillin; cyclopentadecanolide; tricyclodecenyl acetate; and tricyclodecenyl propionate.

Other perfume materials include essential oils, resinoids, and resins from a variety of sources including, but not limited to: Peru balsam, Olibanum resinoid, styrax, labdanum resin, nutmeg, cassia oil, benzoin resin, coriander and lavandin. Still other perfume chemicals include phenyl ethyl alcohol, terpineol, linalool, linalyl acetate, geraniol, nerol, 2-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-cyclohexanol acetate, benzyl acetate, and eugenol. Carriers such as diethylphthalate can be used in the finished perfume compositions.

Other Ingredients--A wide variety of other ingredients useful in detergent compositions can be included in the compositions herein, including other active ingredients, carriers, hydrotropes, processing aids, dyes or pigments, solvents for liquid formulations, solid fillers for bar compositions, etc. If high sudsing is desired, suds boosters such as the C₁₀ -C₁₆ alkanolamides can be incorporated into the compositions, typically at 1%-10% levels. The C₁₀ -C₁₄ monoethanol and diethanol amides illustrate a typical class of such suds boosters. Use of such suds boosters with high sudsing adjunct surfactants such as the amine oxides, betaines and sultaines noted above is also advantageous. If desired, water-soluble magnesium and/or calcium salts such as MgCl₂, MgSO₄, CaCl₂, CaSO₄ and the like, can be added at levels of, typically, 0.1%-2%, to provide additional suds and to enhance grease removal performance.

Various detersive ingredients employed in the present compositions optionally can be further stabilized by absorbing said ingredients onto a porous hydrophobic substrate, then coating said substrate with a hydrophobic coating. Preferably, the detersive ingredient is admixed with a surfactant before being absorbed into the porous substrate. In use, the detersive ingredient is released from the substrate into the aqueous washing liquor, where it performs its intended detersive function.

To illustrate this technique in more detail, a porous hydrophobic silica (trademark SIPERNAT D10, DeGussa) is admixed with a proteolytic enzyme solution containing 3%-5% of C₁₃ -C₁₅ ethoxylated alcohol (EO 7) nonionic surfactant. Typically, the enzyme/surfactant solution is 2.5 X the weight of silica. The resulting powder is dispersed with stirring in silicone oil (various silicone oil viscosities in the range of 500-12,500 can be used). The resulting silicone oil dispersion is emulsified or otherwise added to the final detergent matrix. By this means, ingredients such as the aforementioned enzymes, bleaches, bleach activators, bleach catalysts, photoactivators, dyes, fluorescers, fabric conditioners and hydrolyzable surfactants can be "protected" for use in detergents, including liquid laundry detergent compositions.

Liquid detergent compositions can contain water and other solvents as carriers. Low molecular weight primary or secondary alcohols exemplified by methanol, ethanol, propanol, and isopropanol are suitable. Monohydric alcohols are preferred for solubilizing surfactant, but polyols such as those containing from 2 to about 6 carbon atoms and from 2 to about 6 hydroxy groups (e.g., 1,3-propanediol, ethylene glycol, glycerine, and 1,2-propanediol) can also be used. The compositions may contain from 5% to 90%, typically 10% to 50% of such carriers.

The detergent compositions herein will preferably be formulated such that, during use in aqueous cleaning operations, the wash water will have a pH of between about 6.5 and about 11, preferably between about 7.5 and 10.5. Liquid dishwashing product formulations preferably have a pH between about 6.8 and about 9.0. Laundry products are typically at pH 9-11. Techniques for controlling pH at recommended usage levels include the use of buffers, alkalis, acids, etc., and are well known to those skilled in the art.

Form of the Compositions

The compositions in accordance with the invention can take a variety of physical forms including granular, tablet, bar and liquid forms. The compositions are particularly the so-called concentrated granular detergent compositions adapted to be added to a washing machine by means of a dispensing device placed in the machine drum with the soiled fabric load.

The mean particle size of the components of granular compositions in accordance with the invention should preferably be such that no more that 5% of particles are greater than 1.7 mm in diameter and not more than 5% of particles are less than 0.15 mm in diameter.

The term mean particle size as defined herein is calculated by sieving a sample of the composition into a number of fractions (typically 5 fractions) on a series of Tyler sieves. The weight fractions thereby obtained are plotted against the aperture size of the sieves. The mean particle size is taken to be the aperture size through which 50% by weight of the sample would pass.

The bulk density of granular detergent compositions in accordance with the present invention typically have a bulk density of at least 600 g/liter, more preferably from 650 g/liter to 1200 g/liter. Bulk density is measured by means of a simple funnel and cup device consisting of a conical funnel moulded rigidly on a base and provided with a flap valve at its lower extremity to allow the contents of the funnel to be emptied into an axially aligned cylindrical cup disposed below the funnel. The funnel is 130 mm high and has internal diameters of 130 mm and 40 mm at its respective upper and lower extremities. It is mounted so that the lower extremity is 140 mm above the upper surface of the base. The cup has an overall height of 90 mm, an internal height of 87 mm and an internal diameter of 84 mm. Its nominal volume is 500 ml.

To carry out a measurement, the funnel is filled with powder by hand pouring, the flap valve is opened and powder allowed to overfill the cup. The filled cup is removed from the frame and excess powder removed from the cup by passing a straight edged implement eg; a knife, across its upper edge. The filled cup is then weighed and the value obtained for the weight of powder doubled to provide a bulk density in g/liter. Replicate measurements are made as required.

Mid-Chain Branched Surfactant Agglomerate Particles

The mid-chain branched surfactant system herein is preferably present in granular compositions in the form of mid-chain branched surfactant agglomerate particles, which may take the form of flakes, prills, marumes, noodles, ribbons, but preferably take the form of granules. The most preferred way to process the particles is by agglomerating powders (e.g. aluminosilicate, carbonate) with high active mid-chain branched surfactant pastes and to control the particle size of the resultant agglomerates within specified limits. Such a process involves mixing an effective amount of powder with a high active mid-chain branched surfactant paste in one or more agglomerators such as a pan agglomerator, a Z-blade mixer or more preferably an in-line mixer such as those manufactured by Schugi (Holland) BV, 29 Chroomstraat 8211 AS, Lelystad, Netherlands, and Gebruder Lodige Maschinenbau GmbH, D-4790 Paderborn 1, Elsenerstrasse 7-9, Postfach 2050, Germany. Most preferably a high shear mixer is used, such as a Lodige CB (Trade Name).

A high active mid-chain branched surfactant paste comprising from 50% by weight to 95% by weight, preferably 70% by weight to 85% by weight of mid-chain branched surfactant is typically used. The paste may be pumped into the agglomerator at a temperature high enough to maintain a pumpable viscosity, but low enough to avoid degradation of the anionic surfactants used. An operating temperature of the paste of 50° C. to 80° C. is typical.

Laundry Washing Method

Machine laundry methods herein typically comprise treating soiled laundry with an aqueous wash solution in a washing machine having dissolved or dispensed therein an effective amount of a machine laundry detergent composition in accord with the invention. By an effective amount of the detergent composition it is meant from 40 g to 300 g of product dissolved or dispersed in a wash solution of volume from 5 to 65 liters, as are typical product dosages and wash solution volumes commonly employed in conventional machine laundry methods.

As noted, the mid-chain branched surfactant surfactants are used herein in detergent compositions, preferably in combination with other detersive surfactants, at levels which are effective for achieving at least a directional improvement in cleaning performance. In the context of a fabric laundry composition, such "usage levels" can vary depending not only on the type and severity of the soils and stains, but also on the wash water temperature, the volume of wash water and the type of washing machine.

For example, in a top-loading, vertical axis U.S.-type automatic washing machine using about 45 to 83 liters of water in the wash bath, a wash cycle of about 10 to about 14 minutes and a wash water temperature of about 10° C. to about 50° C., it is preferred to include from about 2 ppm to about 625 ppm, preferably from about 2 ppm to about 550 ppm, more preferably from about 10 ppm to about 235 ppm, of the mid-chain branched surfactant surfactant in the wash liquor. On the basis of usage rates of from about 50 ml to about 150 ml per wash load, this translates into an in-product concentration (wt.) of the mid-chain branched surfactant surfactant of from about 0.1% to about 40%, preferably about 0.1% to about 35%, more preferably from about 0.5% to about 15%, for a heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent. On the basis of usage rates of from about 30 g to about 950 g per wash load, for dense ("compact") granular laundry detergents (density above about 650 g/l) this translates into an in-product concentration (wt.) of the mid-chain branched surfactant surfactant of from about 0.1% to about 50%, preferably from about 0.1% to about 35%, and more preferably from about 0.5% to about 15%. On the basis of usage rates of from about 80 g to about 100 g per load for spray-dried granules (i.e., "fluffy"; density below about 650 g/l), this translates into an in-product concentration (wt.) of the mid-chain branched surfactant surfactant of from about 0.07% to about 35%, preferably from about 0.07 to about 25%, and more preferably from about 0.35% to about 11%.

For example, in a front-loading, horizontal-axis European-type automatic washing machine using about 8 to 15 liters of water in the wash bath, a wash cycle of about 10 to about 60 minutes and a wash water temperature of about 30° C. to about 95° C., it is preferred to include from about 3 ppm to about 14,000 ppm, preferably from about 3 ppm to about 10,000 ppm, more preferably from about 15 ppm to about 4200 ppm, of the mid-chain branched surfactant surfactant in the wash liquor. On the basis of usage rates of from about 45 ml to about 270 ml per wash load, this translates into an in-product concentration (wt.) of the mid-chain branched surfactant surfactant of from about 0.1% to about 50%, preferably about 0.1% to about 35%, more preferably from about 0.5% to about 15%, for a heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent. On the basis of usage rates of from about 40 g to about 210 g per wash load, for dense ("compact") granular laundry detergents (density above about 650 g/l) this translates into an in-product concentration (wt.) of the mid-chain branched surfactant surfactant of from about 0.12% to about 53%, preferably from about 0.12% to about 46%, and more preferably from about 0.6% to about 20%. On the basis of usage rates of from about 140 g to about 400 g per load for spray-dried granules (i.e., "fluffy"; density below about 650 g/l), this translates into an in-product concentration (wt.) of the mid-chain branched surfactant surfactant of from about 0.03% to about 34%, preferably from about 0.03% to about 24%, and more preferably from about 0.15% to about 10%.

For example, in a top-loading, vertical-axis Japanese-type automatic washing machine using about 26 to 52 liters of water in the wash bath, a wash cycle of about 8 to about 15 minutes and a wash water temperature of about 5° C. to about 25° C., it is preferred to include from about 0.67 ppm to about 270 ppm, preferably from about 0.67 ppm to about 236 ppm, more preferably from about 3.4 ppm to about 100 ppm, of the mid-chain branched surfactant surfactant in the wash liquor. On the basis of usage rates of from about 20 ml to about 30 ml per wash load, this translates into an in-product concentration (wt.) of the mid-chain branched surfactant surfactant of from about 0.1% to about 40%, preferably about 0.1% to about 35%, more preferably from about 0.5% to about 15%, for a heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent. On the basis of usage rates of from about 18 g to about 35 g per wash load, for dense ("compact") granular laundry detergents (density above about 650 g/l) this translates into an in-product concentration (wt.) of the mid-chain branched surfactant surfactant of from about 0.1% to about 50%, preferably from about 0.1% to about 35%, and more preferably from about 0.5% to about 15%. On the basis of usage rates of from about 30 g to about 40 g per load for spray-dried granules (i.e., "fluffy"; density below about 650 g/l), this translates into an in-product concentration (wt.) of the mid-chain branched surfactant surfactant of from about 0.06% to about 44%, preferably from about 0.06% to about 30%, and more preferably from about 0.3% to about 13%.

As can be seen from the foregoing, the amount of mid-chain branched surfactant surfactant used in a machine-wash laundering context can vary, depending on the habits and practices of the user, the type of washing machine, and the like. In this context, however, one heretofore unappreciated advantage of the mid-chain branched surfactant surfactants is their ability to provide at least directional improvements in performance over a spectrum of soils and stains even when used at relatively low levels with respect to the other surfactants (generally anionics or anionic/nonionic mixtures) in the finished compositions.

In a preferred use aspect a dispensing device is employed in the washing method. The dispensing device is charged with the detergent product, and is used to introduce the product directly into the drum of the washing machine before the commencement of the wash cycle. Its volume capacity should be such as to be able to contain sufficient detergent product as would normally be used in the washing method.

Once the washing machine has been loaded with laundry the dispensing device containing the detergent product is placed inside the drum. At the commencement of the wash cycle of the washing machine water is introduced into the drum and the drum periodically rotates. The design of the dispensing device should be such that it permits containment of the dry detergent product but then allows release of this product during the wash cycle in response to its agitation as the drum rotates and also as a result of its contact with the wash water.

To allow for release of the detergent product during the wash the device may possess a number of openings through which the product may pass. Alternatively, the device may be made of a material which is permeable to liquid but impermeable to the solid product, which will allow release of dissolved product. Preferably, the detergent product will be rapidly released at the start of the wash cycle thereby providing transient localised high concentrations of product in the drum of the washing machine at this stage of the wash cycle.

Preferred dispensing devices are reusable and are designed in such a way that container integrity is maintained in both the dry state and during the wash cycle. Especially preferred dispensing devices for use with the composition of the invention have been described in the following patents; GB-B-2, 157, 717, GB-B-2, 157, 718, EP-A-0201376, EP-A-0288345 and EP-A-0288346. An article by J. Bland published in Manufacturing Chemist, November 1989, pages 41-46 also describes especially preferred dispensing devices for use with granular laundry products which are of a type commonly know as the "granulette". Another preferred dispensing device for use with the compositions of this invention is disclosed in PCT Patent Application No. WO94/11562.

Especially preferred dispensing devices are disclosed in European Patent Application Publication Nos. 0343069 & 0343070. The latter Application discloses a device comprising a flexible sheath in the form of a bag extending from a support ring defining an orifice, the orifice being adapted to admit to the bag sufficient product for one washing cycle in a washing process. A portion of the washing medium flows through the orifice into the bag, dissolves the product, and the solution then passes outwardly through the orifice into the washing medium. The support ring is provided with a masking arrangemnt to prevent egress of wetted, undissolved, product, this arrangement typically comprising radially extending walls extending from a central boss in a spoked wheel configuration, or a similar structure in which the walls have a helical form.

Alternatively, the dispensing device may be a flexible container, such as a bag or pouch. The bag may be of fibrous construction coated with a water impermeable protective material so as to retain the contents, such as is disclosed in European published Patent Application No.0018678. Alternatively it may be formed of a water-insoluble synthetic polymeric material provided with an edge seal or closure designed to rupture in aqueous media as disclosed in European published Patent Application Nos. 0011500, 0011501, 0011502, and 0011968. A convenient form of water frangible closure comprises a water soluble adhesive disposed along and sealing one edge of a pouch formed of a water impermeable polymeric film such as polyethylene or polypropylene.

Machine Dishwashing Method

Any suitable methods for machine washing or cleaning soiled tableware, particularly soiled silverware are envisaged.

A preferred machine dishwashing method comprises treating soiled articles selected from crockery, glassware, hollowware, silverware and cutlery and mixtures thereof, with an aqueous liquid having dissolved or dispensed therein an effective amount of a machine dishwashing composition in accord with the invention. By an effective amount of the machine dishwashing composition it is meant from 8 g to 60 g of product dissolved or dispersed in a wash solution of volume from 3 to 10 liters, as are typical product dosages and wash solution volumes commonly employed in conventional machine dishwashing methods.

Packaging for the Compositions

Commercially marketed executions of the bleaching compositions can be packaged in any suitable container including those constructed from paper, cardboard, plastic materials and any suitable laminates. A preferred packaging execution is described in European Application No. 94921505.7.

In the following Examples, the abbreviations for the various ingredients used for the compositions have the following meanings.

    ______________________________________                                         LAS      Sodium linear C.sub.12 alkyl benzene sulfonate                        MBAS.sub.x                                                                              Mid-chain branched primary alkyl (average total                                carbons = x) sulfate                                                  MBAE.sub.x S.sub.z                                                                      Mid-chain branched primary alkyl (average total                                carbons = z) ethoxylate (average EO = x) sulfate,                              sodium salt                                                           MBAE.sub.x                                                                              Mid-chain branched primary alkyl (average total                                carbons = x) ethoxylate (average EO = 8)                              C45AS    Sodium C.sub.14 -C.sub.15 linear alkyl sulfate                        CxyEzS   Sodium C.sub.1x -C.sub.1y branched alkyl sulfate                               condensed with z moles of ethylene oxide                              CxyEz    A C.sub.1z-1y branched primary alcohol condensed                               with an average of z moles of ethylene oxide                          QAS      R.sub.2.N.sup.+ (CH.sub.3).sub.2 (C.sub.2 H.sub.4 OH) with                     R.sub.2 = C.sub.12 -C.sub.14                                          TFAA     C.sub.16 -C.sub.18 alkyl N-methyl glucamide                           STPP     Anhydrous sodium tripolyphosphate                                     Zeolite A                                                                               Hydrated Sodium Aluminosilicate of formula                                     Na.sub.12 (A10.sub.2 SiO.sub.2).sub.12.27H.sub.2 O having a                    primary                                                                        particle size in the range from 0.1 to 10                                      micrometers                                                           NaSKS-6  Crystalline layered silicate of formula                                        δ-Na.sub.2 Si.sub.2 O.sub.5                                     Carbonate                                                                               Anhydrous sodium carbonate with a particle size                                between 200 μm and 900 μm                                       Bicarbonate                                                                             Anhydrous sodium bicarbonate with a particle size                              distribution between 400 μm and 1200 μm                         Silicate Amorphous Sodium Silicate (SiO.sub.2 :Na.sub.2 O; 2.0                          ratio)                                                                Sodium sulfate                                                                          Anhydrous sodium sulfate                                              MA/AA    Copolymer of 1:4 maleic/acrylic acid, average                                  molecular weight about 70,000.                                        CMC      Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose                                        Protease Proteolytic enzyme of activity 4KNPU/g sold by                                 NOVO Industries A/S under the tradename                                        Savinase                                                              Cellulase                                                                               Cellulytic enzyme of activity 1000 CEVU/g sold                                 by NOVO Industries A/S under the tradename                                     Carezyme                                                              Amylase  Amylolytic enzyme of activity 60KNU/g sold by                                  NOVO Industries A/S under the tradename                                        Termamyl 60T                                                          Lipase   Lipolytic enzyme of activity 100kLU/g sold by                                  NOVO Industries A/S under the tradename                                        Lipolase                                                              PB4      Sodium perborate tetrahydrate of nominal formula                               NaBO.sub.2.3H.sub.2 O.H.sub.2 O.sub.2                                 PB1      Anhydrous sodium perborate bleach of                                           nominal formula NaBO.sub.2.H.sub.2 O.sub.2                            Percarbonate                                                                            Sodium Percarbonate of nominal formula                                         2Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3.3H.sub.2 O.sub.2                                   NaDCC    Sodium dichloroisocyanurate                                           NOBS     Nonanoyloxybenzene sulfonate in the form of the                                sodium salt.                                                          TAED     Tetraacetylethylenediamine                                            DTPMP    Diethylene triamine penta(methylene phosphonate),                              marketed by Monsanto under the Trade name Dequest                              2060                                                                  Photoactivated                                                                          Sulfonated Zinc Phthlocyanine encapsulated in                         bleach   dextrin soluble polymer                                               Brightener 1                                                                            Disodium 4,4'-bis(2-sulphostyryl)biphenyl                             Brightener 2                                                                            Disodium 4,4'-bis(4-anilino-6-morpholino-1.3.5-                                triazin-2-yl)amino) stilbene-2:2'-disulfonate.                        HEDP     1,1-hydroxyethane diphosphonic acid                                   SRP 1    Sulfobenzoyl end capped esters with oxyethylene                                oxy and terephtaloyl backbone                                         Silicone Polydimethylsiloxane foam controller with siloxane-                   antifoam:                                                                               oxyalkylene copolymer as dispersing agent with a ratio                         of said foam controller to said dispersing agent of 10:1                       to 100:1.                                                             DTPA     Diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid                                  ______________________________________                                    

In the following Examples all levels are quoted as % by weight of the composition. The following examples are illustrative of the present invention, but are not meant to limit or otherwise define its scope. All parts, percentages and ratios used herein are expressed as percent weight unless otherwise specified.

EXAMPLE 1

The following laundry detergent compositions A to F are prepared in accord with the invention:

    ______________________________________                                                    A    B      C       D    E    F                                     ______________________________________                                         MBAS.sub.16.5                                                                               8.0    8.0    8.0   8.0  8.0  8.0                                 C25E3        3.4    3.4    3.4   3.4  3.4  3.4                                 QAS          --     0.8    --    --   0.8  --                                  QAS          --     --     0.8   --   --   0.8                                 Zeolite A    18.1   18.1   18.1  18.1 18.1 18.1                                Carbonate    13.0   13.0   13.0  27.0 27.0 27.0                                Silicate     1.4    1.4    1.4   3.0  3.0  3.0                                 Sodium sulfate                                                                              26.1   26.1   26.1  26.1 26.1 26.1                                PB4          9.0    9.0    9.0   9.0  9.0  9.0                                 TAED         1.5    1.5    1.5   1.5  1.5  1.5                                 DETPMP        0.25   0.25   0.25  0.25                                                                                0.25                                                                                0.25                               HEDP         0.3    0.3    0.3   0.3  0.3  0.3                                 Protease      0.26   0.26   0.26  0.26                                                                                0.26                                                                                0.26                               Amylase      0.1    0.1    0.1   0.1  0.1  0.1                                 MA/AA        0.3    0.3    0.3   0.3  0.3  0.3                                 CMC          0.2    0.2    0.2   0.2  0.2  0.2                                 Photoactivated bleach                                                                       15     15     15    15   15   15                                  (ppm)        ppm    ppm    ppm   ppm  ppm  ppm                                 Brightener 1  0.09   0.09   0.09  0.09                                                                                0.09                                                                               0.09                                Perfume      0.3    0.3    0.3   0.3  0.3  0.3                                 Silicone antifoam                                                                           0.5    0.5    0.5   0.5  0.5  0.5                                 Misc/minors to 100%                                                            Density in g/liter                                                                          850    850    850   850  850  850                                 ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 2

The following granular laundry detergent compositions G to I of bulk density 750 g/liter are prepared in accord with the invention:

    ______________________________________                                                        G       H       I                                               ______________________________________                                         MBAE.sub.2 S.sub.16.5                                                                            5.25      5.61    4.76                                       C45AS            --         2.24    3.89                                       C25AE3S          --         0.76    1.18                                       C45E7             3.25     --      5.0                                         C25E3            --        5.5     --                                          QAS              0.8       2.0     2.0                                         STPP             10.7      --      --                                          Zeolite A        10.7      19.5    19.5                                        SKS-6            --        10.6    10.6                                        Carbonate        6.1       21.4    21.4                                        Bicarbonate      --        2.0     2.0                                         Silicate         6.8       --      --                                          Sodium sulfate   39.8      --      14.3                                        PB4              5.0       12.7    8.0                                         TAED             0.5       3.1     --                                          DETPMP            0.25     0.2     0.2                                         HEDP             --        0.3     0.3                                         Protease          0.26      0.85    0.85                                       Lipase            0.15      0.15    0.15                                       Cellulase         0.28      0.28    0.28                                       Amylase          0.1       0.1     0.1                                         MA/AA            0.8       1.6     1.6                                         CMC              0.2       0.4     0.4                                         Photoactivated bleach (ppm)                                                                     15 ppm    27 ppm  27 ppm                                      Brightener 1      0.08      0.19    0.19                                       Brightener 2     --         0.04    0.04                                       Perfume          0.3       0.3     0.3                                         Silicone antifoam                                                                               0.5       2.4     2.4                                         Minors/misc to 100%                                                            ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 3

The following detergent formulations, according to the present invention are prepared:

    ______________________________________                                                    J     K         L       M                                           ______________________________________                                         LAS          15.0    14.0    14.0    18.0                                      MBAE.sub.16  2.7     1.0     3.0     6.0                                       TFAA         --      1.0     --      --                                        C25E5/C45E7  --      2.0     --      0.5                                       C45E3S       --      2.5     --      --                                        Zeolite A    30.0    18.0    30.0    22.0                                      Silicate     9.0     5.0     10.0    8.0                                       Carbonate    13.0    7.5     --      5.0                                       Bicarbonate  --      7.5     --      --                                        DTPMP        0.7     1.0     --      --                                        SRP 1        0.3     0.2     --      0.1                                       MA/AA        2.0     1.5     2.0     1.0                                       CMC          0.8     0.4     0.4     0.2                                       Protease     0.8     1.0     0.5     0.5                                       Amylase      0.8     0.4     --       0.25                                     Lipase       0.2     0.1     0.2     0.1                                       Cellulase     0.15    0.05   --      --                                        Photoactivated                                                                              70 ppm  45 ppm  --      10 ppm                                    bleach (ppm)                                                                   Brightener 1 0.2     0.2      0.08   0.2                                       PB1          6.0     2.0     5.0     3.0                                       NOBS         2.0     1.0     --      --                                        Polyethylene oxide                                                                          --      0.2     --      0.2                                       of MW 5,000,000                                                                Bentonite clay                                                                              --      --      --      10.0                                      Balance (Moisture                                                                           100     100     100     100                                       and Miscellaneous)                                                             ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 4

The following high density detergent formulations, according to the present invention are prepared:

    ______________________________________                                                          N    O                                                        ______________________________________                                         Agglomerate                                                                    C45AS              11.0   14.0                                                 MBAE.sub.2 S.sub.15                                                                               3.0    3.0                                                  Zeolite A          15.0   10.0                                                 Carbonate          4.0    8.0                                                  MA/AA              4.0    2.0                                                  CMC                0.5    0.5                                                  DTPMP              0.4    0.4                                                  Spray On                                                                       C25E5              5.0    5.0                                                  Perfume            0.5    0.5                                                  Dry Adds                                                                       C.sub.20 SADS      6.0    3.0                                                  HEDP               0.5    0.3                                                  SKS-6              13.0   6.0                                                  Citrate            3.0    1.0                                                  TAED               5.0    7.0                                                  Percarbonate       20.0   20.0                                                 SRP 1              0.3    0.3                                                  Protease           1.4    1.4                                                  Lipase             0.4    0.4                                                  Cellulase          0.6    0.6                                                  Amylase            0.6    0.6                                                  Silicone antifoam  5.0    5.0                                                  Brightener 1       0.2    0.2                                                  Brightener 2       0.2    --                                                   Balance (Moisture and                                                                             100    100                                                  Miscellaneous)                                                                 Density (g/liter)  850    850                                                  ______________________________________                                    

The manufacture of heavy duty liquid detergent compositions, especially those designed for fabric laundering, which comprise a non-aqueous carrier medium can be conducted in the manner disclosed in more detail hereinafter. In an alternate mode, such non-aqueous compositions can be prepared according to the disclosures of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,753,570; 4,767,558; 4,772,413; 4,889,652; 4,892,673; GB-A-2,158,838; GB-A-2,195,125; GB-A-2,195,649; U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,462; U.S. Pat. No. 5,266,233; EP-A-225,654 (Jun. 16, 1987); EP-A-510,762 (Oct. 28, 1992); EP-A-540,089 (May 5, 1993); EP-A-540,090 (May 5, 1993); U.S. Pat. No. 4,615,820; EP-A-565,017 (Oct. 13, 1993); EP-A-030,096 (Jun. 10, 1981), incorporated herein by reference. Such compositions can contain various particulate detersive ingredients (including the bleaching agents, as disclosed hereinabove) stably suspended therein. Such non-aqueous compositions thus comprise a LIQUID PHASE and, optionally but preferably, a SOLID PHASE, all as described in more detail hereinafter and in the cited references. The mid-chain branched surfactant is incorporated in the compositions at the levels and in the manner described hereinabove for the manufacture of other laundry detergent compositions.

Liquid Phase

The liquid phase will generally comprise from about 35% to 99% by weight of the detergent compositions herein. More preferably, the liquid phase will comprise from about 50% to 95% by weight of the compositions. Most preferably, the liquid phase will comprise from about 45% to 75% by weight of the compositions herein. The liquid phase of the detergent compositions herein essentially contains relatively high concentrations of a certain type anionic surfactant combined with a certain type of nonaqueous, liquid diluent.

(A) Essential Anionic Surfactant

The anionic surfactant essentially utilized as an essential component of the nonaqueous liquid phase is one selected from the alkali metal salts of alkylbenzene sulfonic acids in which the alkyl group contains from about 10 to 16 carbon atoms, in straight chain or branched chain configuration. (See U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,220,099 and 2,477,383, incorporated herein by reference). Especially preferred are the sodium and potassium linear straight chain alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) in which the average number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group is from about 11 to 14. Sodum C₁₁ -C₁₄ LAS is especially preferred.

The alkylbenzene sulfonate anionic surfactant will be dissolved in the nonaqueous liquid diluent which makes up the second essential component of the nonaqueous phase. To form the structured liquid phase required for suitable phase stability and acceptable rheology, the alkylbenzene sulfonate anionic surfactant is generally present to the extent of from about 30% to 65% by weight of the liquid phase. More preferably, the alkylbenzene sulfonate anionic surfactant will comprise from about 35% to 50% by weight of the nonaqueous liquid phase of the compositions herein. Utilization of this anionic surfactant in these concentrations corresponds to an anionic surfactant concentration in the total composition of from about 15% to 60% by weight, more preferably from about 20% to 40% by weight, of the composition.

(B) Nonaqueous Liquid Diluent

To form the liquid phase of the detergent compositions, the hereinbefore described alkylbenzene sulfonate anionic surfactant is combined with a nonaqueous liquid diluent which contains two essential components. These two components are a liquid alcohol alkoxylate material and a nonaqueous, low-polarity organic solvent.

i) Alcohol Alkoxylates

One essential component of the liquid diluent used to form the compositions herein comprises an alkoxylated fatty alcohol material. Such materials are themselves also nonionic surfactants. Such materials correspond to the general formula:

    R.sup.1 (C.sub.m H.sub.2m O).sub.n OH

wherein R¹ is a C₈ -C₁₆ alkyl group, m is from 2 to 4, and n ranges from about 2 to 12. Preferably R¹ is an alkyl group, which may be primary or secondary, that contains from about 9 to 15 carbon atoms, more preferably from about 10 to 14 carbon atoms. Preferably also the alkoxylated fatty alcohols will be ethoxylated materials that contain from about 2 to 12 ethylene oxide moieties per molecule, more preferably from about 3 to 10 ethylene oxide moieties per molecule.

The alkoxylated fatty alcohol component of the liquid diluent will frequently have a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) which ranges from about 3 to 17. More preferably, the HLB of this material will range from about 6 to 15, most preferably from about 8 to 15.

Examples of fatty alcohol alkoxylates useful as one of the essential components of the nonaqueous liquid diluent in the compositions herein will include those which are made from alcohols of 12 to 15 carbon atoms and which contain about 7 moles of ethylene oxide. Such materials have been commercially marketed under the trade names Neodol 25-7 and Neodol 23-6.5 by Shell Chemical Company. Other useful Neodols include Neodol 1-5, an ethoxylated fatty alcohol averaging 11 carbon atoms in its alkyl chain with about 5 moles of ethylene oxide; Neodol 23-9, an ethoxylated primary C₁₂ -C₁₃ alcohol having about 9 moles of ethylene oxide and Neodol 91-10, an ethoxylated C₉ -C₁₁ primary alcohol having about 10 moles of ethylene oxide. Alcohol ethoxylates of this type have also been marketed by Shell Chemical Company under the Dobanol tradename. Dobanol 91-5 is an ethoxylated C₉ -C₁₁ fatty alcohol with an average of 5 moles ethylene oxide and Dobanol 25-7 is an ethoxylated C₁₂ -C₁₅ fatty alcohol with an average of 7 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of fatty alcohol.

Other examples of suitable ethoxylated alcohols include Tergitol 15-S-7 and Tergitol 15-S-9 both of which are linear secondary alcohol ethoxylates that have been commercially marketed by Union Carbide Corporation. The former is a mixed ethoxylation product of C₁₁ to C₁₅ linear secondary alkanol with 7 moles of ethylene oxide and the latter is a similar product but with 9 moles of ethylene oxide being reacted.

Other types of alcohol ethoxylates useful in the present compositions are higher molecular weight nonionics, such as Neodol 45-11, which are similar ethylene oxide condensation products of higher fatty alcohols, with the higher fatty alcohol being of 14-15 carbon atoms and the number of ethylene oxide groups per mole being about 11. Such products have also been commercially marketed by Shell Chemical Company.

The alcohol alkoxylate component which is essentially utilized as part of the liquid diluent in the nonaqueous compositions herein will generally be present to the extent of from about 1% to 60% of the liquid phase composition. More preferably, the alcohol alkoxylate component will comprise about 5% to 40% of the liquid phase. Most preferably, the essentially utilized alcohol alkoxylate component will comprise from about 5% to 30% of the detergent composition liquid phase. Utilization of alcohol alkoxylate in these concentrations in the liquid phase corresponds to an alcohol alkoxylate concentration in the total composition of from about 1% to 60% by weight, more preferably from about 2% to 40% by weight, and most preferably from about 5% to 25% by weight, of the composition.

ii) Nonaqueous Low-Polarity Organic Solvent

A second essential component of the liquid diluent which forms part of the liquid phase of the detergent compositions herein comprises nonaqueous, low-polarity organic solvent(s). The term "solvent" is used herein to connote the non-surface active carrier or diluent portion of the liquid phase of the composition. While some of the essential and/or optional components of the compositions herein may actually dissolve in the "solvent"-containing liquid phase, other components will be present as particulate material dispersed within the "solvent"-containing liquid phase. Thus the term "solvent" is not meant to require that the solvent material be capable of actually dissolving all of the detergent composition components added thereto.

The nonaqueous organic materials which are employed as solvents herein are those which are liquids of low polarity. For purposes of this invention, "low-polarity" liquids are those which have little, if any, tendency to dissolve one of the preferred types of particulate material used in the compositions herein, i.e., the peroxygen bleaching agents, sodium perborate or sodium percarbonate. Thus relatively polar solvents such as ethanol should not be utilized. Suitable types of low-polarity solvents useful in the nonaqueous liquid detergent compositions herein do include non-vicinal C₄ -C₈ alkylene glycols, alkylene glycol mono lower alkyl ethers, lower molecular weight polyethylene glycols, lower molecular weight methyl esters and amides, and the like.

A preferred type of nonaqueous, low-polarity solvent for use in the compositions herein comprises the non-vicinal C₄ -C₈ branched or straight chain alkylene glycols. Materials of this type include hexylene glycol (4-methyl-2,4-pentanediol), 1,6-hexanediol, 1,3-butylene glycol and 1,4-butylene glycol. Hexylene glycol is the most preferred.

Another preferred type of nonaqueous, low-polarity solvent for use herein comprises the mono-, di-, tri-, or tetra- C₂ -C₃ alkylene glycol mono C₂ -C₆ alkyl ethers. The specific examples of such compounds include diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, tetraethylene glycol monobutyl ether, dipropylene glycol monoethyl ether, and dipropylene glycol monobutyl ether. Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether and dipropylene glycol monobutyl ether are especially preferred. Compounds of the type have been commercially marketed under the tradenames Dowanol, Carbitol, and Cellosolve.

Another preferred type of nonaqueous, low-polarity organic solvent useful herein comprises the lower molecular weight polyethylene glycols (PEGs). Such materials are those having molecular weights of at least about 150. PEGs of molecular weight ranging from about 200 to 600 are most preferred.

Yet another preferred type of non-polar, nonaqueous solvent comprises lower molecular weight methyl esters. Such materials are those of the general formula: R¹ --C(O)--OCH₃ wherein R¹ ranges from 1 to about 18. Examples of suitable lower molecular weight methyl esters include methyl acetate, methyl propionate, methyl octanoate, and methyl dodecanoate.

The nonaqueous, low-polarity organic solvent(s) employed should, of course, be compatible and non-reactive with other composition components, e.g., bleach and/or activators, used in the liquid detergent compositions herein. Such a solvent component will generally be utilized in an amount of from about 1% to 70% by weight of the liquid phase. More preferably, the nonaqueous, low-polarity organic solvent will comprise from about 10% to 60% by weight of the liquid phase, most preferably from about 20% to 50% by weight, of the liquid phase of the composition. Utilization of this organic solvent in these concentrations in the liquid phase corresponds to a solvent concentration in the total composition of from about 1% to 50% by weight, more preferably from about 5% to 40% by weight, and most preferably from about 10% to 30% by weight, of the composition.

iii) Alcohol Alkoxylate To Solvent Ratio

The ratio of alcohol alkoxylate to organic solvent within the liquid diluent can be used to vary the rheological properties of the detergent compositions eventually formed. Generally, the weight ratio of alcohol alkoxylate to organic solvent will range from about 50:1 to 1:50. More preferably, this ratio will range from about 3:1 to 1:3.

iv) Liquid Diluent Concentration

As with the concentration of the alkylbenzene sulfonate anionic surfactant mixture, the amount of total liquid diluent in the nonaqueous liquid phase herein will be determined by the type and amounts of other composition components and by the desired composition properties. Generally, the liquid diluent will comprise from about 35% to 70% of the nonaqueous liquid phase of the compositions herein. More preferably, the liquid diluent will comprise from about 50% to 65% of the nonaqueous liquid phase. This corresponds to a nonaqueous liquid diluent concentration in the total composition of from about 15% to 70% by weight, more preferably from about 20% to 50% by weight, of the composition.

Solid Phase

The nonaqueous detergent compositions herein also essentially comprise from about 1% to 65% by weight, more preferably from about 5% to 50% by weight, of a solid phase of particulate material which is dispersed and suspended within the liquid phase. Generally such particulate material will range in size from about 0.1 to 1500 microns. More preferably such material will range in size from about 5 to 200 microns.

The particulate material utilized herein can comprise one or more types of detergent composition components which in particulate form are substantially insoluble in the nonaqueous liquid phase of the composition. The types of particulate materials which can be utilized are described in detail as follows:

Composition Preparation and Use

The nonaqueous liquid detergent compositions herein can be prepared by combining the essential and optional components thereof in any convenient order and by mixing, e.g., agitating, the resulting component combination to form the phase stable compositions herein. In a typical process for preparing such compositions, essential and certain preferred optional components will be combined in a particular order and under certain conditions.

In the first step of such a typical preparation process, an admixture of the alkylbenzene sulfonate anionic surfactant and the two essential components of the nonaqueous diluent is formed by heating a combination of these materials to a temperature from about 30° C. to 100° C.

In a second process step, the heated admixture formed as hereinbefore described is maintained under shear agitation at a temperature from about 40° C. to 100° C. for a period of from about 2 minutes to 20 hours. Optionally, a vacuum can be applied to the admixture at this point. This second process step serves to completely dissolve the anionic surfactant in the nonaqueous liquid phase.

In a third process step, this liquid phase combination of materials is cooled to a temperature of from about 0° C. to 35° C. This cooling step serves to form a structured, surfactant-containing liquid base into which the particulate material of the detergent compositions herein can be added and dispersed.

Particulate material is added in a fourth process step by combining the particulate material with the liquid base which is maintained under conditions of shear agitation. When more than one type of particulate material is to be added, it is preferred that a certain order of addition be observed. For example, while shear agitation is maintained, essentially all of any optional surfactants in solid particulate form can be added in the form of particles ranging in size from about 0.2 to 1,000 microns. After addition of any optional surfactant particles, particles of substantially all of an organic builder, e.g., citrate and/or fatty acid, and/or an alkalinity source, e.g., sodium carbonate, can be added while continuing to maintain this admixture of composition components under shear agitation. Other solid form optional ingredients can then be added to the composition at this point. Agitation of the mixture is continued, and if necessary, can be increased at this point to form a uniform dispersion of insoluble solid phase particulates within the liquid phase.

After some or all of the foregoing solid materials have been added to this agitated mixture, the particles of the bleaching agent can be added to the composition, again while the mixture is maintained under shear agitation. By adding the bleaching agent material last, or after all or most of the other components, and especially after alkalinity source particles, have been added, desirable stability benefits for the bleach can be realized. If enzyme prills are incorporated, they are preferably added to the nonaqueous liquid matrix last.

As a final process step, after addition of all of the particulate material, agitation of the mixture is continued for a period of time sufficient to form compositions having the requisite viscosity and phase stability characteristics. Frequently this will involve agitation for a period of from about 1 to 30 minutes.

As a variation of the composition preparation procedure hereinbefore described, one or more of the solid components may be added to the agitated mixture as a slurry of particles premixed with a minor portion of one or more of the liquid components. Thus a premix of a small fraction of the alcohol alkoxylate and/or nonaqueous, low-polarity solvent with particles of the organic builder material and/or the particles of the inorganic alkalinity source and/or particles of a bleach activator may be separately formed and added as a slurry to the agitated mixture of composition components. Addition of such slurry premixes should precede addition of bleaching agent and/or enzyme particles which may themselves be part of a premix slurry formed in analogous fashion.

The compositions of this invention, prepared as hereinbefore described, can be used to form aqueous washing solutions for use in the laundering and bleaching of fabrics. Generally, an effective amount of such compositions is added to water, preferably in a conventional fabric laundering automatic washing machine, to form such aqueous laundering/bleaching solutions. The aqueous washing/bleaching solution so formed is then contacted, preferably under agitation, with the fabrics to be laundered and bleached therewith.

An effective amount of the liquid detergent compositions herein added to water to form aqueous laundering/bleaching solutions can comprise amounts sufficient to form from about 500 to 7,000 ppm of composition in aqueous solution. More preferably, from about 800 to 3,000 ppm of the detergent compositions herein will be provided in aqueous washing/bleaching solution.

EXAMPLE 5

A non-limiting example of bleach-containing nonaqueous liquid laundry detergent is prepared having the composition as set forth in Table I.

                  TABLE I                                                          ______________________________________                                         Component             Wt. %   Range (% wt.)                                    ______________________________________                                         Liquid Phase                                                                   Na C.sub.12 Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS)                                                      25.3    18-35                                            MBAS.sub.16.5         2.0     1-3                                              C.sub.12-14, EO5 alcohol ethoxylate                                                                  13.6    10-20                                            Hexylene glycol       27.3    20-30                                            Perfume               0.4       0-1.0                                          Solids                                                                         Protease enzyme       0.4       0-1.0                                          Na.sub.3 Citrate, anhydrous                                                                          4.3     3-6                                              Sodium perborate      3.4     2-7                                              Sodium nonanoyloxybenzene sulfonate                                                                  8.0      2-12                                            (NOBS)                                                                         Sodium carbonate      13.9     5-20                                            Diethyl triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA)                                                             0.9       0-1.5                                          Brightener            0.4       0-0.6                                          Suds Suppressor       0.1       0-0.3                                          Minors                Balance --                                               ______________________________________                                    

The resulting composition is a stable anhydrous heavy duty liquid laundry detergent which provides excellent stain and soil removal performance when used in normal fabric laundering operations. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A bleaching detergent composition comprising:a) from about 0.1% to about 50% by weight of a bleaching agent; b) from about 0.1% to about 50% by weight of a mid-chain branched surfactant selected from the group consisting of surfactants having the formula: ##STR46## wherein: (i) one or more C₁ -C₃ alkyl moieties branch from the longest linear carbon chain at the positions encompassed by the indicated branching range, with the proviso that said surfactants are substantially free of geminal branching; and(ii) B is a hydrophilic moiety selected from sulfates, polyoxyalkylene, and alkoxylated sulfates; c) from about 0.1% to about 99.8% by weight of detergent composition adjunct ingredients; and wherein the composition has an in-use pH in the range 9-11.
 2. A bleaching detergent composition according to claim 1 wherein said bleaching agent is selected from the group consisting of percarbonate, perborate, sodium pyrophosphate peroxyhydrate, urea peroxyhydrate, sodium peroxide, persulfate, percarboxylic acid bleaching agents and salts thereof, and mixtures thereof.
 3. A bleaching detergent composition according to claim 2 further comprising a bleach activator.
 4. A bleaching detergent composition according to claim 2 further comprising a bleach catalyst.
 5. A bleaching detergent composition according to claim 1 wherein the bleaching agent comprises a bleach activator and a persalt selected from the group consisting of perborate, percarbonate, and mixtures thereof.
 6. A bleaching detergent composition according to claim 5 wherein said mid-chain branched surfactant has B as sulfate and the branching as methyl, and ##STR47## wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the branched primary alkyl moiety, including the branching, is from 14 to
 20. 7. A bleaching detergent composition according to claim 5 wherein said mid-chain branched surfactant has B as alkoxy and the branching as methyl, and ##STR48## wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the branched primary alkyl moiety, including the branching, but not including the carbon atoms in the EO/PO alkoxy moiety, is from 14 to
 20. 8. A bleaching detergent composition according to claim 5 wherein said mid-chain branched surfactant has B as alkoxysulfate and the branching as methyl and ##STR49## wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the branched primary alkyl moiety, including the branching, but not including the carbon atoms in the EO/PO alkoxy moiety, is from 14 to
 20. 9. A granular detergent composition comprising:a) from about 1% to about 80% by weight of a builder selected from the group consisting of aluminosilicates, silicates, and mixtures thereof; b) from about 0.1% to about 50% by weight of a mid-chain branched surfactant selected from the group consisting of surfactants having the formula: ##STR50## wherein: (i) one or more C₁ -C₃ alkyl moieties branch from the longest linear carbon chain at the positions encompassed by the indicated branching range, with the proviso that said surfactants are substantially free of geminal branching; and(ii) B is a hydrophilic moiety selected from sulfates, polyoxyalkylene, and alkoxylated sulfates; c) from about 0.1% to about 99.8% by weight of detergent composition adjunct ingredients; and wherein the composition has an in-use pH in the range of 9-11.
 10. A detergent composition comprising:a) from about 0.0001% to about 2% by weight of active detersive enzyme; b) from about 0.1% to about 50% by weight of a mid-chain branched surfactant selected from the group consisting of surfactants having the formula: ##STR51## wherein: (i) one or more C₁ -C₃ alkyl moieties branch from the longest linear carbon chain at the positions encompassed by the indicated branching range, with the proviso that said surfactants are substantially free of geminal branching; and(ii) B is a hydrophilic moiety selected from sulfates, polyoxyalkylene, and alkoxylated sulfates; c) from about 0.1% to about 99.8% by weight of detergent composition adjunct ingredients; and wherein the composition has an in-use pH in the range of 9-11.
 11. A detergent composition according to claim 10 wherein the active detersive enzyme is selected from the group consisting of proteases, cellulases, lipases, amylases, peroxidases, and mixtures thereof.
 12. A detergent composition according to claim 9 wherein said mid-chain branched surfactant has B as sulfate and the branching as methyl, and ##STR52## wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the branched primary alkyl moiety, including the branching, is from 14 to
 20. 13. A detergent composition according to claim 9 wherein said mid-chain branched surfactant B as alkoxy and the branching as methyl, and ##STR53## wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the branched primary alkyl moiety, including the branching, but not including the carbon atoms in the EO/PO alkoxy moiety, is from 14 to
 20. 14. A detergent composition according to claim 9 wherein said mid-chain branched surfactant has B as alkoxysulfate and the branching as methyl and ##STR54## wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the branched primary alkyl moiety, including the branching, but not including the carbon atoms in the EO/PO alkoxy moiety, is from 14 to
 20. 